Champions League: Red Bull Salzburg VS Chelsea: Kai Havertz's win secures the Blues' place in the last 16 of the Champions League

Havertz secured all three points with a pinpoint finish after he was teed up by Christian Pulisic, his goal helping Chelsea guarantee qualification out of Group E and into the knockout stages of the continental competition.

It looked like the Blues would not be able to guarantee their round of 16 spots until the final game week.

Graham Potter named a much-changed and somewhat experimental playing XI, with Raheem Sterling and Pulisic starting in the wing-back positions in a 3-5-2 formation.

Conor Gallagher and Mateo Kovacic came back into midfield alongside Jorginho, whereas Havertz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang led the line.

The somewhat makeshift nature of the line-up didn't do much to stall Chelsea in the early parts of the game. They dominated possession, albeit without actually creating a chance of note.

Yet the Blues would grow in confidence as the game wore on. Their possessional dominance was finally rewarded when Kovacic converted a brilliant one-touch finish after a botched clearance from the Salzburg defence.

The Croatian doesn't score often, but his rare goals are often memorable, and this was no different, a shot curled in with his left foot that flew into the top left corner.

Chelsea could have doubled or even tripled their lead; such was their dominance and chance creation after that point.

Aubameyang missed a golden chance after a good spell of Chelsea possession saw him put clean through by Havertz, but the Gabon striker shot straight at the keeper.

Havertz would also miss a good chance, heading straight at the keeper when meeting a cross inside the six-yard box. And just on the stroke of half-time, Aubameyang saw another effort saved.

However, those missed chances would come back to haunt the Blues, as Junior Adamu converted the equaliser four minutes into the second half.

Salzburg had started the second half well, and that goal was no more than they deserved. But it served to bring some impetus back into Chelsea's game too.

The Blues swarmed forward and attempted to break the deadlock and were rewarded just after the hour mark when Havertz's shot went in off the upright.

Yet that didn't seal the result; far from it. Chelsea changed formations to a 4-3-3 in a bid to close the game towards the latter parts of the second half.

But all it did was invite pressure, and Salzburg briefly threatened to find another equaliser. Indeed, most Chelsea fans would have been nervous when the fourth official added on six minutes of stoppage time.

However, they saw the time through with minimal fuss – and sealed their spot in the last 16 with a close win.