Chelsea reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the fourth time in the last five seasons with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Olympiacos at Stamford Bridge.

The tie was a knife-edge after the goalless draw in Athens but Michael Ballack soon settled the nerves with a fifth minute header.

Frank Lampard added a second 20 minutes later and Salomon Kalou completed the scoring as the Blues joined Arsenal and Manchester United in the last eight of Europe's premier competition.

Under pressure Blues boss Avram Grant could have not hoped for a more straightforward match with the woeful Greeks failing to test Carlo Cudicini, standing in for the injured Petr Cech, with an attempt on goal until the 61st minute.

Chelsea were swift out of the blocks and a quick throw-in caught the visitors unaware with Lampard's cross firmly nodded home by the totally unmarked Ballack.

Didier Drogba had volleyed over from close range following smart work by Joe Cole but the second was merely a matter of time and came after Olympiacos only half cleared a free-kick.

Claude Makelele's header was nodded on by John Terry and that gave Ballack a sight of goal. His shot from the right channel was spilt by keeper Antonis Nikopolidis and Lampard tapped home the rebound.

Olympiacos had suffered four 4-0 defeats in their previous seven trips to England and this one looked to be going the same way when Olympiacos failed to deal with a corner three minutes after the break and the ball travelled untouched to Kalou who was on hand to prod home from three yards.

The final scoreline could have been more emphatic with Lampard scuffing a shot wide when he really should have scored, Drogba netting only to be pulled back for a borderline offside while Nikopolidis made good saves to deny Joe Cole and Makelele.

The Greeks did show some belated ambition in the final stages as sub Fernando Belluschi rattled the crossbar with a swerving 25-yard piledriver while Cudicini made a double save to parry Ieroklis Stoltidis's free-kick before clawing away Paraskevas Antzas' headed rebound.

But it was too little far too late and if Liverpool hold on to their lead at Inter next Tuesday then half the quarter-final line-up will comprise of English sides.

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Lee Walker / Eurosport