Chelsea Women have secured a quarter-final spot in the Women's Champions League after they came from behind to beat Wolfsburg 2-1 in their final league phase game, finishing third in the table.
It will see the Blues avoid a play-off in mid-February, allowing an ease in their busy fixture schedule. They will find out their potential opponents in the final eight when the draw for the knockout rounds is made on Thursday (12pm).
Chelsea began the evening in third too, but their spot in the top four - which ensured a direct entry into the quarters - was under threat early on as Wolfsburg capitalised on a dominant spell.
Livia Peng's attempted clearance was tapped into Alexandra Popp's path. She turned past Keira Walsh before sending a low, hard shot past the goalkeeper.
Both sides continued to trade blows, although Wolfsburg had the better openings. Lucy Bronze twice kept Chelsea in the game with her defending too - she cleared Lineth Beerensteyn's effort off the line before a well-timed tackle inside the box kept Kessya Bussy from striking.
Image: Lucy Bronze scored Chelsea's equaliser
Then, moments later, she equalised at the other end, nodding home Erin Cuthbert's corner just before half-time.
Chelsea had more control after the break, and pushed for the winner from the restart, with Alyssa Thompson hitting the post before Cuthbert was denied by Stina Johannes.
Sam Kerr made sure of the three points in the 64th minute. She was unmarked at the near post to nod home a cross from Johanna Rytting Kaneyrd, scoring her 20th Champions League goal for Chelsea.
Image: Alexandra Popp celebrates her opening goal against Chelsea
Wolfsburg did not make it an easy finish either. In five minutes of added time, Janou Levels smashed an effort onto the top of the crossbar with Peng beaten, but they could not find the equaliser they wanted.
The result still sees Wolfsburg into the knockout rounds, but they finish in ninth by a point. It means they will be unseeded for Thursday's draw, and they will face either Real Madrid or Juventus.
### What are the Champions League key dates?
The draw for the knockout phase, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be made on December 18 at 12pm GMT.
**Knockout phase play-offs**
* First leg: February 11/12
* Second leg: February 18/19
**Quarter-finals**
* First leg: March 24/25
* Second leg: April 1/2
**Semi-finals**
* First leg: April 25/26
* Second leg: May 2/3
**Final**
May 23 at the Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo