Chelsea booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the knockout rounds.
Hakim Ziyech scored the opening goal of the game for the Blues in the first half. Emerson Palmieri wrapped up the scoring deep into injury time after the visitors went down to ten men in the second half.
The Blues had won the first leg 1-0 and Thomas Tuchel will be delighted with the defensive grit shown by his players over the two legs.
Olivier Giroud played a key role in the first leg victory and Antonio Rudiger has now made a similar impact in the second leg.
The German defender was outstanding against Atletico Madrid tonight and the Spanish outfit failed to create any meaningful chances throughout the game.
In hindsight, it seems quite out astounding that Frank Lampard decided to drop Rudiger from the starting lineup during the first half of the season. The German has been impeccable since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel and he is one of the main reasons why Chelsea managed to keep the likes of Luis Suarez quiet tonight.
Kante and Kovacic have been an absolute nightmare for Atletico’s high press so far #CFC
The defender was instrumental in the sending off of Stefan Savic late on in the second half as well. The former Manchester City defender was sent off on the 81st minute for an elbow on the German defender’s chest.
January signing Edouard Mendy produced a spectacular save to deny Joao Felix in added time and Chelsea will be delighted with two back to back clean sheets against a top European side.
Emerson Palmieri scored the decisive second goal for Chelsea, after he was brought on minute earlier, through a scathing counter attack involving Kante and Pulisic.
Things could have been different and Atletico had a chance to take 1-0 lead, as one controversial decision from the Italian referee went to Chelsea way, when Cesar Azpilicueta brought down Yannick Carrasco in the first half.
The draw for the quarter-finals is set to take place later this week on Friday and Chelsea will certainly fancy their chances against any team remaining in the competition.
Line-ups
Chelsea
Édouard Mendy, Kurt Zouma, Antonio Rüdiger, César Azpilicueta, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kanté, Marcos Alonso, Reece James, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech.
Substitutes
Wilfredo Caballero, Olivier Giroud, Emerson, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben Chilwell, Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Billy Gilmour, Faustino Anjorin.
Atletico Madrid
Jan Oblak, Jose Gimenez, Stefan Savic, Renan Lodi, Kieran Trippier, Saúl Niguez, Koke, Yannick Carrasco, Marcos Llorente, Luis Suárez, Joeo Felix.
Substitutes
Héctor Herrera, Vitolo, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Sime Vrsaljko, Thomas Lemar, Ivo Grbic, Angel Correa, Felipe, Lucas Torreira, Miguel San Román, Mario Hermoso, Moussa Dembélé
