Never a positive to not be in Europe – Potter
Chelsea have work to do if they want to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals when they take on Borussia Dortmund in their round of 16 second leg tonight.
Despite an impressive performance during the reverse fixture the Blues trail Dortmund 1-0 on aggregate thanks to Karim Adeyemi’s counter-attacking strike but they will bring confidence into the match after edging past Leeds at the weekend. Consecutive wins will ease the growing pressure on manager Graham Potter who is still trying to impose his style on Chelsea’s team of superstars.
However, the Blues have a difficult task ahead of them. Potter’s side have struggled to score goals – they’ve netted just four times in their last 11 matches across all competitions and never more than once in a game – but must put at least two past a high-flying Dortmund side if they want to progress without extra-time or penalties.
Edin Terzić’s side are on an 11-game winning streak that stretches back to November 2022. They are second in the Bundesliga, on goal difference only, and look like possible contenders to make it far in Europe his year.
Follow all the action as Chelsea host Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last-16:
Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund (2-1 agg)
90+6 mins: Marco Reus goes down in the Chelsea box as a shot is deflected out for a corner. The cross is headed out to Emre Can who knocks the ball over to Reyna on the right.
His chip back into the box drops to Wolf but Kepa gets behind the defender’s side footed shot.
The six minutes are up so we’re now into added time of stoppage time.
Michael Jones7 March 2023 22:05
Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund (2-1 agg)
90+3 mins: Wolf and Chilwell get into a bit of a barney and Chilwell is booked from running the ball away and delaying a restart. This will be a massive win for Graham Potter if Chelsea can get over the line.
There’s three or so minutes to go.
Michael Jones7 March 2023 22:02
Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund (2-1 agg)
90 mins: There’s six minutes of stoppage time to play. The announcement is met with groans from the Chelsea supporters.
Michael Jones7 March 2023 22:00
Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund (2-1 agg)
88 mins: A long cross from Sule comes into the box and flies over the head of Reece James. Reyna keeps it play just before the ball crosses the byline then flicks a cross of his own into the middle which is nodded away by James.
There are a lot of nervous looking faces in the crowd now. Chelsea are hanging on to this lead.
Michael Jones7 March 2023 21:59
Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund (2-1 agg)
85 mins: Reyna is fouled by Gallagher after giving the ball away to the Blues. Instead of a Chelsea counter-attack, Dortmund win a free kick in a dangerous area.
Guerreiro once again lifts the ball into the box but Chelsea boot it away.
Michael Jones7 March 2023 21:55
Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund (2-1 agg)
82 mins: There are a couple of substitutions for Chelsea now. Raheem Sterling, who got the ball rolling for Chelsea, is replaced with Christian Pulisic as Mateo Kovacic goes off for Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
There’ll be a bunch of stoppage time added on at the end of the 90 so there’s still around 10 minutes or so of this match to play.
Michael Jones7 March 2023 21:53
Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund (2-1 agg)
79 mins: That’s a waste. Borussia Dortmund win a free kick just outside the Chelsea penalty area. It’s a similar position to the one in which Marco Reus troubled Kepa Arrizabalaga in the first half.
This time Raphael Guerreiro flicks the ball into the danger zone but the Blues clear their lines without too much trouble.
Michael Jones7 March 2023 21:49
Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund (2-1 agg)
76 mins: Disallowed goal! Mateo Kovacic brings the ball through midfield and threads a forward pass into the path of Raheem Sterling.
Sterling makes his run in behind, takes the ball into the penalty area and squares it to Conor Gallagher who walks it into the net.
Then the offside flag goes up and the replays show that Sterling was offside by a toe.
Michael Jones7 March 2023 21:46
Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund (2-1 agg)
73 mins: The Dortmund fans are making a lot of noise in their section of the stands, urging their players on. Chelsea have been disciplined in defence.
They win a couple of consecutive corners but neither set piece troubles the Dortmund goalkeeper.
Michael Jones7 March 2023 21:44
Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund (2-1 agg)
70 mins: Lovely from Chelsea! They’re forced to defend deep but Marc Cucurella wins the ball inside his own box and sends the Blues forward on the break.
Sterling, Havertz and James bomb up the pitch before Conor Gallagher is slipped into the box and wins the home side a corner.
Michael Jones7 March 2023 21:41
