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These two teams renew their rivalry in the first leg of the round of 16 ties of this Uefa Champions League encounter. It was the pick of the matches played on this night and all eyes were fixed on seeing how Tuchel's men would play on the night away from home after only drawing two of their numerous matches and losing none. They have been in a good form of late and they delivered the good with the only goal away from home. Atletico has it all do to in the second leg encounter.
Back passes from Chelsea almost gifted Atletico the lead when Mendy had too much touch on the ball he was given in the box and Luis Suarez reacted faster him in the 2nd minute. Suarez's knock took the ball far away from the goal, else it would have been an easy tap in for him. Mendy would be relieved there.
In the 8th minute, Jorginho also gave the ball away. Suarez received the pass and then found Joao Felix at the edge of the box. He brilliantly tried to find a teammate at the end of the post but Alonso was there to turn it away for a corner kick. They really pressed Chelsea high at this point in the game.
In the 14th minute, Suarez made a mess out of Rudiger and Alonso when he out powdered them and brilliantly turned them into the box. He flashed his effort across the goal just to find Lemar but he couldn't find the perfect touch on the ball and it went for a goal kick. What a brilliant effort from Luis Suarez. He did everything right but no one to reward his effort at the other end. If only Lemar was quicker. Thomas Tuchel was furious with his players at this point.
Just a minute after, Chelsea had their own moment too when Hudson Odoi found Mason Mount and his brilliant ball into the box went out with no one to connect to it for an easy tap in.
Lemar tried to pick out Luis Suarez with a lofted pass but it was too much for him. I feel Joao Felix to his left would have been a better option. Timo Werner brilliantly turned away from Savic and unleashed a lovely strike in the 39th minute but the goalkeeper was there to stop it from going in. Chelsea has increased their tempo at this point.
In the 53rd minute, Mason Mount expertly avoided challenge and found Timo Werner with a lovely ball, he tried to find Giroud for an easy tap in but Felipe was on hand to stop it for a corner. Chelsea are breathing life into this tie.
The moment of truth came in the 68th minute when Alonso's long ball found Giroud who knocked it down for Kovacic. Kovacic found Alonso running at the side and gave the pass to him. He was able to deliver the ball into the box and the ball managed to bounce off the defender which allowed Olivier Giroud to produce an overhead kick into the back of the net. The goal was initially ruled for an offside but after a lengthy delay and checks, the VAR allowed the goal since it bounced off an Atletico Madrid player to find Giroud. What an important away goal for Chelsea.
Timo Werner was played through as well in the 84th minute but he waited for support to arrive but didn't come on time. He went for a goal himself but could only find the side of the net.
The game ended 0-1 to Chelsea and Diego Simeone would be disappointed with his team. They have to work extra hard in the second leg if they are to progress to the Quarterfinals. It would be an interesting tie as well.
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