Someone should say that first legs in the knockout phase are boring. What Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea delivered at Signal Iduna Park was great cinema. Both teams went straight to the front from the start. It’s almost bizarre that the first and only goal came after more than an hour. But the wait was worth it.
Fast, faster, Adeyemi
After a Chelsea corner, Dortmund swarmed out in the 63rd minute. After a high clearance from Raphael Guerreiro, Karim Adeyemi – still in his own half – suddenly found himself in a 1v1 with Enzo Fernandez.
The BVB attacker grabbed the opportunity and used his speed. With the cadence of a sewing machine, Adeyemi easily passed Chelsea’s 121 million new signing, rounded the storming goalie Kepa Arrizabalaga and easily pushed in to make it 1-0 – ecstasy in the Ruhrpott.
Kobel closes shop
Chelsea’s reaction was not long in coming. The “Blues”, who have not really gotten going in the English Premier League, were able to generate a lot of danger, especially on the two flanks with Hakim Ziyech and Michailo Mudryk.
At the latest, however, Gregor Kobel was the end of the line for the Londoners. The 25-year-old BVB goalkeeper put in an extremely strong performance and repeatedly saved his front men from conceding a goal:
- 53 minutes: Chelsea take a dangerous free kick from a good 20 yards. Reece James curls the ball into the near right corner, but Kobel saves with a flight.
- 78 minutes: After a nice move, Kalidou Koulibaly comes free in the middle from 12 meters. Kobel can’t hold onto the ball, but Emre Can can just clear the goal line.
- 95 minutes: Probably the best save comes from Kobel in the last minute of stoppage time, when he scrapes a slipping Fernandez out of the high right corner.
Shortly after Kobel’s last rescue flight, the 81,000 spectators in the packed stadium were redeemed with the final whistle. A game that could well have ended 3:3.
Here’s how to proceed
Dortmund are thus taking the smallest possible cushion into the second leg, which will take place on March 7th at Stamford Bridge. The two clubs will be back in action in their respective championships at the weekend. BVB meets Hertha Berlin at home on Sunday, Chelsea welcomes Southampton on Saturday.