Torres treble as Chelsea hit QPR for six

Fernando Torres scored his first hat-trick for Chelsea in a 6-1 win over Queens Park Rangers as they celebrated reaching the Champions League final by roaring back into contention to qualify for next season's competition.

Torres and the Blues produced the polar opposite of a European hangover after Tuesday's astonishing semi-final triumph over Barcelona by burying QPR in a Stamford Bridge mudbath. It lifted them up to fifth in the Barclays Premier League, a point below Newcastle ahead of Wednesday night's crucial clash against the Magpies.

Their biggest ever win over QPR avenged October's incendiary west London derby defeat at Loftus Road, the visitors' goal difference taking a pounding as they stayed just outside the relegation zone having played a game more than third-bottom Bolton.

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