Chelsea still made it into the Quarterfinals of the Champions League. The “Blues” defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the round of 16 second leg on Tuesday evening and thus made up for the 0-1 defeat in the first game. In the eleventh competitive game in 2023, the Germans suffered their first defeat after ten wins and a very bitter one at that. Benfica Lisbon easily managed promotion with a 5-1 win over Club Brugge.
Raheem Sterling (43rd) and Kai Havertz (53rd) scored for the 2021 Champions League winner with a penalty kick that was used in the second attempt. The first attempt shot at the pole had to be repeated because players ran into the penalty area too early. The penalty kick was given in the first place because the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened – rightly so. Dortmund’s first-leg goal scorer Karim Adeyemi went up front, the ex-Salzburger was not available due to injury.
For Dortmund there were already problems before kick-off. The team bus had to wait around 15 minutes in front of the stadium before those responsible cleared the way. As a result, the game started about 12 minutes late. And there, too, there was quickly the next bad news for Dortmund, who continued to play without regular goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. After just over three minutes, Julian Brandt was eliminated with a left thigh injury, making it the earliest substitution in the knockout phase of the Champions League.
The Londoners began raiding. Alexander Meyer had to save against Joao Felix (6′), and Havertz didn’t get the ball on target from a good position (8′). The Germans almost turned the game upside down, but Kepa Arrizabalaga fished a Reus free kick out of the corner (17′). Otherwise only the home side pressed and were unlucky for the time being. A Havertz shot landed on the inside bar but didn’t find its way into the goal (28′). And a Havertz goal was rightly not recognized afterwards because Sterling was offside (38th). Meyer (40th) saved again from a Joao Felix margin.
In the 43rd minute, the BVB goalkeeper was powerless. After a Chilwell cross in the sixteenth, Sterling had the necessary luck with the ball and shot in powerfully from eleven meters. Less than two minutes after the restart, VAR intervened with a slight delay and the Londoners were rightly awarded a penalty as Marius Wolf cleared a Chilwell cross with his hand.
Havertz charged goalkeeper Meyer, but failed on the pole. As some players ran into the penalty area too early, the penalty was repeated. Havertz showed no nerves, opted for the same execution, with the difference that this time the ball landed right in the corner. Dortmund could have saved themselves in extra time, but Jude Bellingham missed a top chance from close range (58th). Otherwise the third goal was in the air on the other side, but didn’t fall.
The “Blues” scored more than one goal for the first time in their twelfth competitive game in the new year. After the 1-0 win in the league against relegation candidates Leeds United, coach Graham Potter’s team celebrated their second win in a row. Dortmund have to wait for the first quarter-finals in the “premier class” since the 2020/21 season.
Coached by ex-Salzburg coach Roger Schmidt, the Lisboners even got the upper hand 7-1 after beating Bruges 2-0 away. The Portuguese had already laid the foundation for promotion in Belgium and finally made everything clear with a double strike shortly before the break. Rafa Silva made it 1-0 (38th) after a 70-meter sprint and a perfect counterattack after a pass from Goncalo Ramos. In injury time in the first half, the assist provider then shone as an executor himself after Joao Mario’s preparatory work. In the 57th minute, the Portuguese team striker put together his brace after assisting Grimaldo.
For the Belgians it was even more bitter. Joao Mario (71st) scored from the penalty spot and thus in the fifth Champions League game in a row. In addition, David Neres (77th) also entered the shooter list. At the end of the day, the guests at least managed to score a consolation goal, which was scored by Björn Meijer (87th). Schmidt can now try for the first time in his coaching career in April in the quarter-finals of the “premier class”. Benfica is there for the second time in a row, and in 2022 they lost to Liverpool. The draw will take place on March 17th.