One crew wished to spoil; the opposite wished to play. Whereas Atlético Madrid had been decided to make the competition as boring as potential, Thomas Tuchel gave Chelsea freedom to precise themselves. Liberated, Chelsea stood as much as be counted. They refused to rise to Luis Suárez’s provocation they usually punished Atlético’s grinding negativity below Diego Simeone when Olivier Giroud, with a little bit of assist from VAR, got here up with a particular purpose halfway by the second half.
Tuchel might have a good time the proper away efficiency in Europe and his most spectacular win since changing Frank Lampard final month. Chelsea had been strong {and professional} on the again after recovering from a sluggish begin, they had been mature and exact in midfield they usually had been impressed when their first clear sight of purpose arrived, Giroud’s astonishing overhead kick guaranteeing they left Bucharest with a slender benefit.
Atlético might haven’t any complaints after ceding the initiative to Chelsea, who had been by far the extra progressive facet. Andreas Christensen shone within the absence of Thiago Silva in the midst of the again three, limiting La Liga’s pacesetters to few alternatives, whereas Callum Hudson-Odoi was a constructive at proper wing-back after being subbed on and off towards Southampton final Saturday.
Atlético barely created something and their frustration was epitomised by Suárez embarking on a solitary wind-up mission because the match wore on, testing Chelsea together with his niggles off the ball and squaring as much as Antonio Rüdiger at one stage.
Rüdiger refused to be drawn in and Chelsea, who’ve a beautiful likelihood of progressing past the final 16 for the primary time since 2014, centered on letting their superior soccer do the speaking.
Examined by Atlético’s stifling ways, they stayed calm. Mason Mount was excellent regardless of choosing up a reserving that guidelines him out of the second leg on 17 March and Giroud, an unused substitute towards Southampton, was ruthless together with his solely likelihood.
Chelsea had glorious performances throughout the pitch, with Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic dictating play in midfield. They are going to know, although, that it’s not over but. Jorginho can be suspended for the return recreation and Atlético, who had been denied dwelling benefit due to Covid-19 restrictions, shall be harmful and crafty at Stamford Bridge, significantly if they offer the vigorous João Felix extra assist in assault.
It was Felix who inconvenienced Chelsea most. Jorginho and Mount had been booked for fouling the younger ahead, who threatened with an overhead kick within the second half and was the one Atlético participant who wished to run with the ball.
Simeone’s smothering ways had been arduous to grasp on condition that Chelsea had been skittish through the early levels. Mount was booked for chopping Felix down within the first minute and Édouard Mendy virtually gifted Saúl Ñíguez a calamitous purpose after dithering with a backpass.
Chelsea’s goalkeeper received away with it. Quickly, although, Tuchel was remonstrating with Rüdiger and Marcos Alonso after they left a bouncing ball to one another on the fitting. Suárez nipped in, stealing possession earlier than crossing for Thomas Lemar to poke large with Mendy stranded.
It was a reminder, not that one was wanted, that Chelsea couldn’t afford to chill out with Suárez round. But they quickly settled down. Hudson-Odoi was diligent in his defensive work, monitoring again to comprise Lemar, and harmful when he linked with Mount.
Though Atlético threatened once more when Ángel Correa mixed with Suárez simply earlier than half-time, they usually defended with a again six. Chelsea had 71% possession within the first half, although creating possibilities was tough. Timo Werner had their finest second, darting in from the left earlier than testing Jan Oblak.
As soon as once more Tuchel discovered himself craving extra precision within the closing third. Chelsea had been working down useless ends and there at all times appeared to be a crimson and white shirt in the way in which. Atlético, organised regardless of the absence of José María Giménez, compressed the house and it summed them up when Simeone was booked on the touchline.
Chelsea had nothing to worry and Mount refused to cease probing. Within the 67th minute a cross got here into the Atlético space from the left. The ball looped up into the air, Mount difficult Mario Hermoso, who diverted it to Giroud. The 34-year-old produced a second of genius, utilizing his left foot to beat Oblak with a robust overhead kick.
Though the flag went up for offside towards Giroud, a prolonged VAR overview confirmed that the ultimate contact got here off Hermoso.
Chelsea had been rewarded for his or her persistence. Atlético had been punished for his or her lack of ambition.
