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Chelsea, defending champion, qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League on March 16, 2022, winning 2-1 in Lille. The English club had already won 2-0 in the round of 16 first leg, against the French club.
There are no more French clubs in the Champions League (C1). Lille was eliminated in the knockout stages of the C1, like Paris Saint-Germain a week earlier. At least, the Lille fell on stronger than them…
However, they were more than convincing, this March 16, 2022, in the round of 16 second leg, against the reigning European champions Blues. Solid in midfield, the French champions have long outsmarted the English club. To the point of opening the scoring in the 38th minute. The Turkish striker of Losc, Burak Yilmaz, indeed took advantage of a penalty, awarded after recourse to the VAR, to deceive the opposing goalkeeper, Édouard Mendy.
The feat then seems possible. But, just before the break, Italian midfielder Jorginho was left unmarked in front of the Lille area. He has time to see Christian Pulisic’s call and serve Chelsea’s American winger. The latter concludes with a crossfire: 1-1, 45th + 3.
Lille lack of success
In the second half, the Lille go on the attack. The Portuguese midfielder Xeka, in particular, sends the ball to the right upright of Mendy, with an uncrossed header (63rd).
Success is on the side of the Blues. In the 71st minute, on a tight cross, the Spanish side César Azpilicueta widened the gap by taking the ball with his knee: 1-2, final score.
Winners 2-0 in the first leg, the Londoners qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. A competition they dream of winning again, they who are plagued by doubt following the announced sale of Chelsea by the oligarch Roman Abramovich, targeted by sanctions, following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.