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Borussia Dortmund won their Champions League round of 16 first leg against Chelsea (1-0) on Wednesday at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. The Yellow and Blacks were able to count on a lightning breakthrough from Adeyemi and a solid defense that did not crack in the final moments.
Borussia Dortmund took a valuable advantage against Chelsea (1-0), Wednesday, February 15, in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League.
Borussia are playing in 4-5-1 with the returning Haller at the forefront for this start of the game, while Chelsea are organized in 4-2-3-1. The meeting starts in an incandescent atmosphere of which Signal Iduna Park and its “yellow wall” have the secret. Both teams set the pace during these first minutes. Moudrik thinks of presenting himself alone against the Borussia goalkeeper but he finds Schlotterbeck on his way, who recovers the ball with a delicious sliding tackle (2e). Moudrik, again, has fire in his legs on his left side but his center finds no one in the opposing box (7e).
Chelsea start this match well but sometimes with too much commitment, as on this sole of James on Adeyemi in the midfield sanctioned with a yellow card (9e). Les Blues (11e) and Dortmund (12e) then obtain their first corner of the match in quick succession, without this creating any danger. Moudrik gets an interesting eccentric free kick for his team, successfully converted by James (16e)… but the goal is finally disallowed for a handball from Silva at the near post, an action which also earns the Brazilian defender a yellow card (17e).
In the aftermath, Brandt, launched by Bellingham, made an incursion of more than 20 meters into the Chelsea camp but he got tangled up when finishing in the opposing area (19e). Dortmund seem in a strong moment and try interesting passing combinations (25e), but each time he misses the last gesture for it to be a real scoring opportunity. Haller finds himself in a striking position for the first time, but his shot from a tight angle shakes the net outside the Chelsea goalkeeper’s cage (26e).
Ziyech gets a free kick converted by James, but Chelsea’s set-piece ends in an offside (30e). Then Ziyech and Félix create a counter where they overtake the opposing defense, but the Portuguese midfielder fails to frame his shot at the entrance to the Dortmund area (32e). On a corner, Borussia responds with a shot from Adeyemi but the ball goes just above the crossbar of Arrizabalaga (33e).
On a Chelsea counter led by Havertz and Félix, the Portuguese attacking midfielder takes a lead on his defender thanks to a nice double contact, before sending the ball over the crossbar (38e). This is the biggest chance of this game so far. Dortmund’s turn to project themselves thanks to Brandt who puts the ball back for Wolf at the entrance to the Chelsea area, but the Borussia right-back does not frame his shot (43e). The two teams return to the locker room with a pleasant 0–0.
Victorious breakthrough for Adeyemi
The second half resumes. Moudrik launches Chilwell in depth but the ball is deflected for a corner. This ultimately does nothing for the Blues (48e). In the process, Bellingham is warned for a late tackle on Chilwell (49e). The two teams, as since the start of the match, apply themselves to defending well at the start of the second period. But Can is surprised by the rise of the ball from James and is warned of a yellow card for having stopped him irregularly (53e). This gives Chelsea a dangerous free kick at the entrance to the Dortmund area… James’s shot goes over the yellow wall but Kobel manages to deflect the ball (54e).
Dotmund, who suffers at the start of the second half, manages to create danger with Adeyemi who crosses back, but Brandt’s shot is well captured on the ground by Arrizabalaga (57e). Fernandez gets a shot situation next, but he fails to frame (61e). Chelsea continue their threats, this time by James who sends a rebound shot deflected for a corner by Kobel (62e). The Blues are more offensive than in the first period… but on a flashback, Adeyemi crosses the whole field, eliminates Fernandez then Arrizabalaga before pushing the ball into the empty goal (1-0, 63rd).
Then comes the first coaching of the match: Modeste replaces Haller for the last twenty minutes of play (68e). Mount and Cucurella then replace Moudrik and Chilwell on the Chelsea side (71e). In the process, it was Ziyech’s turn to be warned for a missed aerial duel (72e). Wolf is then replaced by Ryerson (73e). The match has been marked by several breaks for a few minutes, but the Blues will no doubt want to snatch the draw before the end of the match.
Ziyech transforms a dangerous free kick for Chelsea, but Kobel clears with both fists (77e). In the aftermath, Chelsea believe equalizing on a strike from Koulibaly, but Can preserves the advantage of his team by clearing the ball on the line (78e). The Blues continue their pressure on the opposing surface, but the yellow wall does not crack in front, like Süle who regularly stops Havertz who went alone in goal (82e). Dortmund now relies on counterattacks, but lacks precision to make the score worse.
Félix tries a new shot, but Kobel catches it low to the ground (84e). The success is not London this Wednesday evening. Maybe on this new free kick obtained by Félix? Ziyech rounds the wall but his shot is off target (86e). The minutes pass and Dortmund seem close to a precious victory… The end of the match is choppy, the tension is at its height near the sidelines (89e). Fernandez tries a last cartridge with a curled shot, but Kobel deflects for a corner (90e +4). It was ultimately Dortmund who won by a short length at home.