Tuesday Chelsea and Benfica have punched their tickets into the Champions League last eight but it was quite eventful. At Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea attack scored two goals for the first time in 2023 to defeat Dortmund 2-0 (2-1 on aggregate) to advance to the final eight. Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz scored, but it was a match with quite a few twists and turns -- enough that Gio Reyna and Christian Pulisic ended up squaring off by the close of things.
Havertz's goal was quite a controversial one as it began from Marius Wolf being charged with a handball after a VAR review. The first take of the penalty saw Havertz stutter step and drive his shot off the bar but it was then retaken due to encroachment by Dortmund. The Chelsea squad showed excellent support allowing, Havertz to take the retake and he wouldn't miss on his second chance, slotting the ball into the bottom corner to give Chelsea a 2-0 advantage. But the injury to Julian Brandt only five minutes into the match which saw Reyna replace him. Outside of a few chances, the Dortmund attack was well contained by Chelsea's defense in an excellent match for the Blues.
Benfica defeated Club Brugge 5-1 (7-1 on aggregate) with braces from Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario. After losing to an Oostende side in the relegation zone in Belgium, Scott Parker's side needed a rebound that didn't come in this match as they were flat from start to finish. While Benfica's midfield and defense were excellent to dictate the game, Brugge wouldn't have expected to be so overmatched from start to finish.
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Here are a few takeaways from the match:
With Dortmund scoring for fun lately and Chelsea being dealt a blow due to an injury to their captain Thiago Silva, it was fair to expect the Blues to struggle defensively during the match. Without Benoit Badiashile in the Champions League squad due to having more January additions than they could register, Potter had to change his defense from the one that kept a clean sheet against Leeds United as Marc Cucurella came into a back three flanking Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana in a back three.
Fofana's return couldn't have come at a better time for Chelsea. Making only his fourth appearance for the Blues since suffering a knee injury, Forfana was excellent during the match, winning two of his three tackles attempted and also making three clearances to assist Reece James with defending Marco Reus. The defense only allowed four shots to test Kepa in net and limiting Dortmund's impact on the game is only a good thing for a keeper who has begun to show why he was the most expensive signing at his position in the world.
The base that a strong defense has given Chelsea under Potter makes their finishing issues easier to stomach because even if the team can't score, they usually only need one goal to secure a positive result.
Finishing has been an issue for the Blues but they went back to basics in this game. With Joao Felix, Havertz and Sterling leading the line, there was a balance in Chelsea's attack that gave Dortmund fits during the match. Scoring twice for the first time in 12 games since defeating Bournemouth in December of 2022, this was a balance that the Blues haven't had in a while. Some of that is due to James' role in the attack but the midfield duo of Mateo Kovacic and Enzo Fernandez allows the attack to have freedom due to their strength in possession and decision-making.
With the misses that Chelsea has been having when pushing forward, confidence can begin to flow. Even the way the Sterling goal happened with a whiff before an excellent finish, it's something that shows that things can only go so bad for the Blues given their talent level.
Two wins and two clean sheets on the bounce give Potter proof that his system is working at Chelsea which could be dangerous for teams later in Champions League play.
Losing Darwin Nunez and Enzo Fernandez is enough to cripple most teams but not when they have recruitment as sound as Benfica's. The Portuguese club are already leading their domestic league by eight points and showed why in this match against Club Brugge. While this isn't the same Brugge team that finished on 11 points in Group B, it is a talented side that Benfica passed around, through, and over during the tie. Putting five goals past a team at this stage of Champions League is an impressive feat and led by Goncalo Ramos, Benfica can do some damage.
A two-footed striker, Ramos had a two goals and an assist as he's also comfortable setting up his teammates. Playing in front of a strong defensive core, if teams aren't careful Benfica can make them pay.
They needed some help but eventually got the job done in their biggest result under manager Graham Potter so far this season. Sterling and Havertz got massive goals for their confidence while the defense showed that they can keep clean sheets without Thiago Silva in an impressive all around victory.
Dortmund has a corner and they're throwing everyone forward in the match.
Things are getting chippy because as things stand, the Black and Yellow are out of Champions League.
Chelsea has been excellent defensively with Kepa making key saves as the Dortmund attack has been off balance for the entire game. Christian Pulisic is also making his return to the pitch against his former team against fellow national teamer Gio Reyna.
An excellent result as Benfica head into the last 8 with a 7-1 romp on aggregate. Braces from Joao Mario and Goncalo Ramos highlights how dangerous Benfica's attack can be when given space in matches.
Chelsea had the ball in the back of the net but Gallagher was just off and it won't count. Dortmund will make a change with Haller being withdrawn for Donyell Malen.
It won't make a difference in the match but Meijer scores and it's 5-1. Quite a clean sheet wipe with only three minutes left in the match.
Initially ruled out due to being offside, Benfica's fifth goal from Neres will actually count and the squad are just having fun doing shooting practice in the match.
After Brugge conceded a penalty, Joao Mario slotted his take home and it's 4-0 to the Portuguese side.
That was a good chance for Dortmund to equalize on aggregate but Dortmund are still searching.
He goes the same way but calmly slots it into the back of the net and Chelsea are ahead 2-0 and as things stand they're going through to the next round. It's the first time that Chelsea has scored twice in a match this year.
Havertz steps up to take the penalty and fakes himself up when he stops to go the other way firing the penalty off the post. But there was encroachment from Dortmund and Havertz will get another try.
it's for a hand ball on Wolf as VAR will review and the referee could take a look as well.
It's Ramos again and it's now 3-0 with 56 minutes left in the match. It could be a landmark victory to head into the last eight.
Dortmund have had chances but it was Sterling who has the goal to show for his efforts. But with how they've struggled in possession, can Dortmund make adjustments at halftime to get back into things?
He couldn't control the shot with his first touch and then finally slotted it into the back of the net. You could hear the sighs of relief around Stamford Bridge.
Sterling has a shot on target that rebounds to Havertz who slots it home but it won't count.
Goals were hard to come by but Benfica are now ahead 2-0 in the match and up 4-0 on aggregate.
Chelsea can't score no matter what they do. Genuinely it's hard to believe how hard it is for the Blues to finish chances right now.
It's Rafa Silva as again Benfica are unstoppable on the break and broke Brugge's resolve. It has been coming and now it's here.
He slots a cross in front of goal but Haller was already deep and unable to get onto the end of it. Promising for the American and Dortmund though.
It's their best spell fo a game that has been dominated by Benfica but the team has yet to get a breakthrough.
Kepa is sound and saves the attempts from a free kick but Dortmund draws a corner kick.
