European roundup: Chelsea boost Champions League hopes, Atalanta move second
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Olivier Giroud (#18) dives to score Chelsea's first goal against Norwich City during their Premier League match in London, UK, July 14, 2020. /VCG

Olivier Giroud (#18) dives to score Chelsea's first goal against Norwich City during their Premier League match in London, UK, July 14, 2020. /VCG

An underwhelming Chelsea boosted their chances of a berth in next season's Champions League, overcoming a slow start to beat relegated Norwich City 1-0 at Stamford Bridge stadium in London on Tuesday.

Olivier Giroud scored with virtually the last touch of the first half as Chelsea consolidated third place in the Premier League and moved four points above Leicester City and Manchester United in the battle for a top-four finish.

It was an eighth successive league defeat for Norwich, who were already condemned to relegation after losing to West Ham United on Saturday.

Chelsea struggled to convert their overwhelming possession into goals but deserved the three points after a diving Giroud scored from point-blank range.

Mario Pasalic of Atalanta scores a hat-trick in his team's 6-2 victory over Brescia during their Serie A match in Bergamo, Italy, July 14, 2020. /VCG

Mario Pasalic of Atalanta scores a hat-trick in his team's 6-2 victory over Brescia during their Serie A match in Bergamo, Italy, July 14, 2020. /VCG

Atalanta's Croatian midfielder Mario Pasalic scored a hat-trick as they thrashed relegation-threatened Brescia 6-2 on Tuesday to climb to second place in Serie A, six points behind leaders Juventus and two ahead of Inter Milan and Lazio.

Boasting Serie A's most potent attack, Atalanta took the lead when Ruslan Malinovsky sliced open the defense with a clever pass to set up Pasalic to score in the second minute.

Brescia struck back six minutes later through Ernesto Torregrossa, but they were stunned by three superb goals from Marten de Roon, Malinovsky and a diving header by Duvan Zapata to go in at the break 4-1 down.

The home side did not let up after halftime with Pasalic netting twice more to complete his hat-trick, and though Nikolas Spalek pulled a goal back, the defeat left Brescia second from bottom on 21 points after 33 games, nine points from the safety zone.

Source(s): Reuters