It is a disappointment for Graham Potter and his Chelsea team. Despite the contribution of some of its many winter recruits, the Blues did not hold the shock in the overheated den of Borussia Dortmund (1-0) while Benfica Lisbon returned from Bruges with a success perhaps to be decisive (0-2), Wednesday during the 1/8th final first leg of the Champions League.
The west London club, which spent nearly 300 million euros during the winter transfer window, introduced three of their new players at Signal Iduna Park at kick-off (Joao Felix, Mykhaïlo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez) but the result is enough to disappoint the bosses of the club, led by the American Todd Boehly. Already battered in the league (10th), the Blues could not resist the fury of Borussia, as always carried by its boiling public. However, the signals were positive, in particular Joao Felix, who appeared particularly at ease, who saw his shot hit the post in the first period.
In the second half, the Londoners started pressing Borussia Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel's goal. Jude Bellingham's teammates then multiplied the faults, sanctioned with a yellow card for the captain, midfielder Emre Can or striker Karim Adeyemi. But Chelsea sinned in the finish, like the direct free kick from Reece James who very clearly lacked power to deceive the vigilance of Kobel, impeccable Wednesday evening on his goal line. It was during this favorable phase for Chelsea that Dortmund pulled their heads out of the water, shortly after the hour mark.
The Kobel Rampart
Graham Potter's troops, though generally dominating, were surprised. On a corner for the English, Raphaël Guerreiro raises, then intervenes the genius of Adeyemi. First with perfect control in midfield, then an acceleration to overtake Enzo Fernandez and finally two dribbles on the Argentinian international world champion and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Under the eyes of Germany coach Hansi Flick and Mannschaft sporting director Rudi Völler, present in the stands, Dortmund then showed selflessness and solidarity to resist the London waves.
Kobel then turned into a real wall in front of the legendary Yellow Wall, a standing stand for 25,000 BVB supporters.
It was he who repelled Enzo Fernandez's attempt at the last minute of added time. With only one goal behind, Chelsea are still able to turn things around on March 7 at Stamford Bridge in the return match.
"They know how to score when they have to"
In the other meeting of the evening, Benfica Lisbon may have done the hardest part. The Lisbon club got the better of Club Brugge's enthusiasm to take an option on the quarter-finals of the Champions League by winning 2-0 in the Venice of the North in the round of 16 first leg, thanks to goals from Joao Mario and David Neres in the second half. A defeat that reflects a clear lack of experience on the part of the Belgians, according to goalkeeper Simon Mignolet: "We played a mature game being at Champions League level. Of course Benfica had possession but weren't really better than us. But details made the difference and our opponents have more experience. They know how to score when needed.
The Portuguese team, which completed the first phase at the top of Group H ahead of PSG, seems very well placed to qualify for the quarter-finals. Double winner of the event (1961, 1962), Benfica would thus reach this stage of the competition for the second year in a row. For Bruges there is little hope of catching up in Lisbon. "It will be difficult in the second leg but if we manage to score first, maybe we can make them doubt," hopes the Belgian international goalkeeper.
