Chelsea defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie to progress to the quarter-finals with a 3-2 aggregate win. Dortmund started the game brightly and had a number of early chances to score, but it was Chelsea who took the lead in the 28th minute when Hakim Ziyech finished off a counter-attack with a left-footed shot. Dortmund continued to create chances but were unable to find a way past Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who made a number of important saves.
In the second half, Chelsea looked more comfortable and doubled their lead in the 34th minute through a well-placed header from Emerson Palmieri. Dortmund continued to push forward, but their efforts were in vain as Chelsea held on for the win. The victory means Chelsea have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2014, and they will now await the draw to find out who they will face in the next round.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel praised his team’s performance and said they had “suffered” to get the win. He also highlighted the importance of goalkeeper Mendy, who he described as “outstanding”. Meanwhile, Dortmund manager Edin Terzic rued his team’s missed opportunities but said they had played well and had given their all. Overall, it was a hard-fought victory for Chelsea and a disappointing exit from the competition for Dortmund.
In addition to the match analysis, it’s worth noting that this victory is significant for Chelsea as it marks their fifth consecutive win under new manager Thomas Tuchel. Since taking over from Frank Lampard in January, Tuchel has made a significant impact on the team, improving their defensive stability and getting the best out of some of their key players.
Furthermore, this win against Dortmund is particularly impressive given the quality of the opposition. Dortmund are one of the most dangerous attacking teams in Europe and possess some of the continent’s most exciting young talents such as Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho. Chelsea were able to nullify their threat and secure a clean sheet, which is a testament to their defensive organisation.
Looking ahead, Chelsea will be hoping to continue their strong form in the Champions League and build on their recent success. With Tuchel at the helm and a talented squad at their disposal, they will be a tough proposition for any team in the competition.
As for Dortmund, they will be disappointed to have exited the competition at this stage. However, they can take heart from the fact that they put in a good performance and showed their attacking quality. They will now turn their attention to the domestic league and their push for a top-four finish in the Bundesliga.