In Wednesday's Champions League action, Benfica took care of business sealing a 2-0 victory over Club Brugge while Chelsea fell 1-0 to Dortmund despite hitting the post twice in the match. It was an end to end match between two sides that don't play much defense but Dortmund's keeper Gergor Kobel made seven saves while his post did the rest of the work.
It was all that the Black and yellow needed as following Felix's second chance off the post, Karim Adeyemi went coast to coast for one of the goals of the tournament so far. Scoring in his third consecutive match for Dortmund he couldn't be finding form at a better time while Chelsea's issues of not finishing their chances continued.
The Blues won the xG battle 2.13 to 1.41, taking 21 shots in the match but it wasn't enough to turn over Dortmund. Enzo Fernandez likely could've made a tactical foul to stop Adeyemi but if it turned into a red card, it also could've seen Chelsea lose the match 2-0 or worse. It's the little things that plague Chelsea but when this is a common issue, those little things become large.
Brugge only made two mistakes but when you're an underdog facing Benfica that's something that you can't afford. Goncalo Ramos was fouled by Jack Hendry in the box for a penalty and Joao Mario just squeaked in his penalty to score the opening goal. Benfica struggled to get an insurance goal but then that was gifted to them too as David Neres dispossessed a defender and slotted the ball past Simon Mingolet to go up 2-0 two minutes from time.
Brugge's form since the World Cup has been brutal with the club only winning one of 11 matches since the break and facing Benfica, it's clear to see why. New manager Scott Parker's seat is likely already getting warm and before long the team could be looking to appoint their third manager of the season. While there's a chance to overturn this result away to Benfica, it's unlikely that the Belgian club will come back from two goals down. Benfica will want to be more clinical moving forward as this isn't a performance that would suffice against stronger teams but you can only play who is in front of you.
Chelsea struck the post twice while Kobel saved Dortmund but Karim Adeyemi's brilliance was enough to see Dortmund to victory. Chelsea will have a chance in the second leg but they'll have to finish their chances in the second leg. Benfica also took advantage of Brugge's mistakes for a 2-0 victory that should end this tie.
Four yellow cards have been handed out in Dortmund vs. Chelsea so far for a bad tackle from Ryerson that led to a coming together between the players. With added time coming up, plenty of players will now need to avoid being sent off.
A lovely finish by Neres off the bench taking advantage of a defensive mistake from Brugge to slot it home for the 2-0 advantage.
But it's too easy for Kobel. The Blues are getting good chances in the closing moments of the match.
Modeste gets into the Chelsea box but Reece James is there to stop him while on the Chelsea side, Havertz had an excellent run but was stopped in the Dortmund box with a clean tackle. There is time for Chelsea to score before all is said and done.
Forced into a big big save on Koulibaliy, Chelsea thought they had their equalizer. Ziyech's follow-up couldn't find the net either as Chelsea are having every chance to score but the ball just won't go in.
Stop what you're doing and enjoy this goal!
Brugge has had their chances but Otamendi is keeping the Benfica defense organized. With 12 minutes remaining, they just need to see this out although another goal would do them a world of good to rest players in the second leg. It's hard to see a Brugge comeback at this stage.
He'll replace Mykhaylo Mudryk while Marc Cucurella also enters for Ben Chilwell. Potter is pushing for more goals versus a Dortmund side that is prone to concede late in matches.
Adeyemi goes from coast to coast sprinting past Enzo and rounding Kepa on the way to the net. That was just excellent.
He hits the post again as Chelsea squanders an excellent attack.
If he can't continue that would be a big loss for Brugge as he's critical to their counter attack but he will try to play through things.
Kobel was just able to get to it but it was a good take from Chelsea. They're getting the better attacking chances in the second half but they have yet to lead to a goal.
Ramos is brought down by Hendry and Joao Mario sinks his penalty take to put Benfica ahead 50 minutes into the match.
For Benfica, it's more of the same. One of these chances is bound to hit the back of the net but they have to ensure that the defense is aware of the threat that Brugge poses. Ramos hasn't been good enough missing three chances and counting but there are options on the bench if needed.
Brugge will want to make sure to not beat themselves, the team's performance has been okay and with a little luck they'd be ahead 1-0. Keep composure and look for an opening.
Dortmund are in a similar boat as Benfica, the chances have been there but their defense also hasn't been good enough in the early going. This game has Gio Reyna winner off of the bench written all over it.
Chelsea needs to get Havertz out of there. He's becoming an area where attacks go to die and that can't continue despite not having true strikers in the squad. Playing through Felix has lead to Chelsea's most dangerous moments so keep it going.
But it won't count as Odoi's header is judged to be offside. It's a chance that highlights that if Benfica doesn't take advantage of their attacking prowess, this match could slip away quickly.
It was a wicked strike but curled just away from the post. So so close to the opening goal.
Silva is pushing the pace for Benfica and they came close to an opening goal but this one from Ramos was right over the bar. It's a great chance but Benfica has to put one of those in the net.
With a great flick into the box, Felix was bearing down on Dortmund's goal but couldn't put his shot on target.
Despite peppering Brugge's net in the early going but they only have one of their four attempts on target. Their possession is still keeping Brugge in check but things need to improve or they could be caught out on the counter attack.
He played a cross into the box from a cornet kick but Kepa was there to keep things under control.
An open start to Dortmund vs Chelsea as it doesn't feel like there will be long before the first goal in the match.
Picking up a yellow card for tripping only 10 minutes into the match is quite disappointing when Brugge were already expected to defend for most of the match.
Ramos already has had a header from close range but Mingolet was there to save it. It has been all Benfica though so Mingolet is going to have quite a busy day to keep Brugge in the match.
Stay tuned for the action today.
From being sidelined for six months due to receiving treatment for cancer, Haller is back and already on the score sheet for Dortmund. Now in Champions League he'll be leading the line in a massive match versus Chelsea. His presence in the box makes the Dortmund attack better and he'll be leaned upon heavily to put the ball in the back of the net.
Goncalo Ramos returns to the starting XI after getting a rest during the weekend.
Brugge starters: Mingnolet; Mata, Hendry, Mechele; Odoi; Onyedika; Vanaken; Meijer; Buchanan; Sowah; Lang
Reserves: Jutgla; Bursik; Rits; Nielsen; Boyata; Nusa; Yarmechuk; Sylla; Sandra
Benfica starters: Vkachodimos; Grimaldo; Otamendi; Silva; Bah; Chiquinho; Luis; Aursnes; Silva; Mario; Ramos
Reserves: Junior; Verissimo; Neres; Guedes; Tengstedt; Schjelderup; Sorares; Musa; GOmes; Neves; Morato; Draxler
Gio Reyna will begin the match on the bench while Hakim Zyiech gets another chance to start for Chelsea.
Dortmund starters: Kobel, Wolf, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro, Can, Adeyemi, Bellingham, Ozcan, Brandt, Haller
Reserves: Meyer, Hummels, Meunier, Ryerson, Rothe, Coulibaly, Dahoud, Reus, Reyna, Modest, Malen, Byno-Gittens
Chelsea starters: Arrizabalaga, Chilwell, Silva, Koulibaly, James, Fernandez, Loftus-Cheek, Mudryk, Felix, Ziyech, Havertz
Reserves: Bettinelli, Bergstrom, Chalobah, Azpilicueta, Cucurella, Fofana, Kovacic, Mount, Zakaria, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, Hall
