Stamford Bridge is set for what could turn out to be a raucous night in west London two weeks from now after Premier League giants Chelsea succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Borussia Dortmund tonight at Signal Iduna Park.
On a night where the Blues were hopeful of putting a frustrating 2022-23 Premier League campaign temporarily in their rearview, Graham Potter’s outfit will fly back across the Channel frustratingly on the wrong end of a defeat that does not reflect the level of their performance in Ruhr country.
Borussia Dortmund have a 1st leg advantage ✅
Karim Adeyemi’s goal gives the German side the edge over Chelsea ⚫️🟡#UCL pic.twitter.com/UEyfpJbEhI
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 15, 2023
The Blues had nearly gotten off to a dream start after João Félix found Mykhailo Mudryk down the left-hand channel before the Ukrainian starlet turned on the afterburners with space ahead of him and looked to get in on Gregor Kobel, but a last-ditch tackle from Nico Schlotterbeck denied the 21-year-old a chance to open his club account in the 2nd minute.
Despite the quick pressure out of the gate by Chelsea, Dortmund had settled into a dominant rhythm in the opening ten minutes while boasting 70% possession and registering the only two efforts during the initial exchanges at Signal Iduna Park.
Though the Ruhr-based side still enjoyed possession dominance, Chelsea would carve out the best chance of the first half when Félix once again was an attacking focal point when the 23-year-old Portuguese star beat Kobel from inside the box but could only rattle the bar, giving the Blues an avenue of confidence into the second half in the knowledge that they had crafted more from less than their German counterparts in terms of both xG and big chances created.
Chelsea pushed for the opener with the same energy and verve after the restart and continued to find chances but it would end up being Dortmund that broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute through German international Karim Adeyemi after the former RB Salzburg forward picked up the ball in his own half before blowing past Enzo Fernández only to ultimately skip around Kepa to slot past the Spanish shot-stopper and gift Die Schwarzgelben a 1-0 advantage.
Potter’s troops can take some measure of confidence away from the overall level of performance after comfortably outstripping the Germans on the data front but simply could not manage to make just one of their chances count on the scoresheet.
📰 Table Of Contents
Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings
- GK: Gregor Kobel – 8.5
- RB: Marius Wolf – 7
- CB: Niklas Süle – 6
- CB: Nico Schlotterbeck – 7
- LB: Raphaël Guerreiro – 7.5
- DM: Emre Can – 7
- RM: Julian Brandt – 7
- CM: Jude Bellingham – 7.5
- CM: Salih Özcan – 6
- LM: Karim Adeyemi – 8
- CF: Sébastien Haller – 6.5
- Sub: Anthony Modeste – 6
- Sub: Julian Ryerson – 5.5
- Sub: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens – 6
Chelsea Player Ratings
- GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6
- RB: Reece James – 6.5
- CB: Thiago Silva – 7.5
- CB: Kalidou Koulibaly – 7
- LB: Ben Chilwell – 6.5
- CM: Enzo Fernández – 7
- CM: Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 6.5
- CAM: João Félix – 8
- RW: Hakim Ziyech – 7
- LW: Mykhailo Mudryk – 6.5
- CF: Kai Havertz – 7
- Sub: Marc Cucurella – 6
- Sub: Mason Mount – 6
Key Performers
Kai Havertz’s first half by numbers vs. Borussia Dortmund:
100% tackles won
100% long balls completed
83% pass accuracy
23 touches
2 key passes
1 big chance createdSearching for an opening. 🔎 pic.twitter.com/SVnsQLBu03
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 15, 2023
▪️Completed the most dribbles (4) vs Dortmund in the first half
▪️Completed the most accurate passes (100%) vs Dortmund
▪️Won the most duels (6) in the match.
Joao Félix is the main man for Chelsea tonight🌟 pic.twitter.com/gSrmLsIld3
— Yaw Ampofo Jr (@Yaw_Ampofo_) February 15, 2023
Karim Adeyemi’s game by numbers vs. Chelsea:
45 touches
6/10 ground duels won
4/7 dribbles completed
2/3 long balls completed
2 fouls won
1 key pass
1 goalScored a well taken goal. 👊 pic.twitter.com/bQW4ydNk4R
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 15, 2023
Expert Takes & Social Media
Dortmund and Chelsea go head-to-head for the first time ever in the #UCL Round of 16. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/kxdy8GXwmr
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 15, 2023
Right Place, Right Time. pic.twitter.com/PsA3szDMvE
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 15, 2023
Lothar Matthäus on Dortmund’s recent form: “Key for me is the development of Can and Brandt. The one is finally being allowed to play consistently in his natural position, the only one he belongs in: holding midfield. He’s worth his weight in gold there.”
— ari (@aritrabvb1909) February 15, 2023
GK is such a scrutinized position and rightly so, but the fact that we haven’t heard Kepa’s name much during a long rough spell for Chelsea shows he’s been playing well & hasn’t been the reason for our poor form. And credit to him. Hope he carries his confidence on to Dortmund. pic.twitter.com/0ykPL3nrGb
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) February 14, 2023
🗣 “He’s done a fantastic job, I’m pleased for him.”
Graham Potter is a big fan of Edin Terzić and praises the work he has done so far with Borussia Dortmund pic.twitter.com/mwvVEkX5eo
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 15, 2023
🚨 Enzo Fernandez, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Joao Felix all start to make their #UCL debuts for Chelsea.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) February 15, 2023
That is absolutely incredible! 😍
Dortmund’s tifo game 🔥#UCL pic.twitter.com/W2eLqWLquZ
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 15, 2023
The inspiring story of Sébastien Haller.@rioferdy5, Joe Cole, and Owen Hargreaves share their thoughts on the Dortmund striker’s truly remarkable journey.#UCL pic.twitter.com/a1c0agXeSI
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 15, 2023
This is the most space Mudryk has had since he saw James Milner at Anfield #CFC
— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) February 15, 2023
This is the most space Mudryk has had since he saw James Milner at Anfield #CFC
— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) February 15, 2023
There hasn’t been a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes of Dortmund vs Chelsea. 🙃
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 15, 2023
Dortmund kinda all over the place in that first half. Not bad in attack – particularly Brandt – but Chelsea have had the better chances and look more likely to score.
— Stefan Bienkowski (@SBienkowski) February 15, 2023
An incredible solo goal from Adeyemi who carries the ball from his own half, takes on his man, goes around the keeper and slots the ball home – for all of their defending this half its Dortmund who lead.
— Get German Football News (@GGFN_) February 15, 2023
Quite remarkable that #CFC lost a second half they dominated. Have to score in the second leg to stay in the competition…tough ask given their lack of ability to find the net.
— Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) February 15, 2023
Borussia Dortmund’s record vs. English clubs:
🏟️ 34 games
✅ 12 wins
🤝 6 draws
❌ 16 defeatsThey get their first win against an English side since beating Spurs in 2016. ⚫🟡 pic.twitter.com/wyYcVBpEqb
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 15, 2023
10th in the league, lost the first leg in the UCL to Dortmund, can’t score, can’t win…
Welcome to Chelsea 🍕🧯 pic.twitter.com/ZczSnrQV5A
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 15, 2023
Gregor Kobel is an outstanding keeper. Seems to be making huge saves for Dortmund in every game this season.
— Stefan Bienkowski (@SBienkowski) February 15, 2023
Not sure there’s a single other team left in the tournament Dortmund would’ve beaten with this performance tbf
— Lars Pollmann (@LarsPollmann) February 15, 2023
😅 what a game! Gregor Kobel my man of the match. Boehly has probably already drawn up a new shopping list… reaction pod coming!
— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) February 15, 2023
Graham Potter coached a team that created plenty of opportunities.
At the end of the day, we had a lot of good chances but couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.
Still all to play for at the Bridge!
— Elizabeth Helenek (@eli_helenek) February 15, 2023
