Chelsea progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League at the expense of Spanish league leaders Atletico Madrid after a 2-0 win on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.
Olivier Giroud scored a spectacular overhead kick in the first leg to give Chelsea the advantage going into Wednesday night’s tie and Hakim Ziyech quickly added to that advantage during the opening half.
The Blues consolidated on their record of never having been eliminated from a European knockout tie after winning the first leg away from home to 14 occasions and frustration got the better of Atletico in the closing stages.
Stefan Savic was shown a straight red for violent conduct late on after elbowing Antonio Rudiger as Emerson Palmieri got off from the bench in stoppage time to scored with his very first touch thereby completing a professional job by the hosts.
It is the first time Chelsea have reached the Champions League last eight in seven years and they continue to flourish under Thomas Tuchel in all competitions, making this now the longest unbeaten start to a tenure by any manager in the club’s history, overtaking Luiz Felipe Scolari’s 12 games in 2008.
Watch the highlights of the match below
Managers reactions…
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel said: “It was a very good performance. Unbelievable team effort from the guys on the pitch, the guys on the bench, even the guys in the stands. You could really feel that we totally wanted it. We go through deserved. It’s a big win for us.
“The amount of effort and intensity, and the team work over both legs was fantastic. We missed four or five key players today in Andreas, Thiago, Mason and Jorginho. But the guys are totally reliable and the intensity is incredible. We played very bravely and can adapt to any system the opponents played today. It’s a deserved win and a big win as we’re now in the quarter-finals. I’m really happy for my players.
“The most important thing is that we give feedback to the guys in terms of their quality and that they feel it. They need to feel it from the manager and they play with a certain bond. Results like this you can only do with a special atmosphere. I’m sure no one wants to play against us. We’re in the last eight which is already a big step but there’s no need for us to be afraid. We’ll prepare for it in the best way possible.”
Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid said: “We worked hard to disrupt their rhythm but every time we regained the ball we couldn’t impose ourselves on them. There were many elements of our game that pleased me, and there was an improvement in our game in the second half. I was pleased with the character but we ultimately fell short.
“I’m really well. We have to accept this reality. We have to keep improving and growing. We gave our best effort tonight but it wasn’t enough.
“The fans will be feeling pain and disappointment but they will recover to think of the future. With work, we will get stronger and recover from this defeat. We had not one sense of fear. This is the Champions League, it’s difficult and we came up against a superior team.
“Always it’s better to win and to advance. We aren’t thinking of this as allowing us to focus on the league. We will continue with the same application and energy that we take into the game with Alaves.”
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- After a run of four consecutive eliminations when appearing at the last 16 stage in the Champions League, Chelsea have progressed to the competition’s quarter-finals for the first time since 2013/14 under José Mourinho.
- Chelsea are yet to concede a goal in six home games under Thomas Tuchel in all competitions; indeed, the Blues have kept 11 clean sheets in 13 games under the German, more than any other Premier League club since his first game in charge in January.
- Chelsea became the first English club to eliminate Atlético Madrid from the knockout stage of a major European competition since Gary Megson’s Bolton Wanderers in the 2007-08 UEFA Cup last 32.
- Atlético Madrid have now lost more UEFA Champions League games against Chelsea (four) than any other opponent.
- In all competitions, Timo Werner (10 goals, 7 assists) has been directly involved in more goals this season than any other player for Chelsea.
- Atlético Madrid defender Stefan Savic received his third UEFA Champions League red card; only Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edgar Davids and Sergio Ramos (all four) have had more in the competition’s history.
Bayern Munich 2-1 Lazio (agg: 6-2): Lewandowski scores again as the Champions League holders breeze into quarter-finals
Winners of the last edition of the UEFA Champions League, Bayern Munich, cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons after humbling Italian side Lazio 2-1 (6-2 on aggregate) at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
Robert Lewandowski fired the German champions ahead from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute, making it his 39th goal of the season in all competitions, to virtually end Lazio’s hopes.
Bayern seemed to have taken their foot off the gas but substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting who replaced Lewandowski added the second goal in the 73rd minute. Marco Parolo headed a late consolation for Lazio.
Bayern joined fellow German side Borussia Dortmund in the last eight and Lazio’s exit means no Italian team will compete in the Champions League quarter-finals, with Juventus and Atalanta having also exited at the last-16 stage.
Lewandowski!!!!
Congrats to the Blues
Congratulations