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Chelsea
The game was played in 343, with Cucurella, Koulibaly and Fofana at center back, Kovacic and Enzo Fernandez at the back, Chilwell and James on the wings, and the trio of Félix, Havertz and Sterling at the front, while Dortmund played in 451, with Emre Can at the back and Brandt Bellinngham Reus and Ozcan plus Heller up front. Dortmund played a 451 with Emre Can at the back, Brandt, Bellinngham, Reus, Ozcan and Heller up front, with the intention of attacking from the wings.
(Both teams start)
Brandt was injured and replaced by Reyna only four minutes into the game, and Dort played aggressively from the start, pressing at least five men up front, though
Chelsea
The game was clearly in good form and the counter-attacks were efficient in the opening stages, with Sterling and Félix both getting chances almost directly at the goalkeeper
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Dortmund played aggressively but the back of the midfield seemed to be a bit of a defensive liability when left to EmreCan alone, and it didn't take long for the game to see that Havertz was in good form.
Chelsea
has also been able to create chances with the ball in Dort's emptier waist position, instead of being on the counter-attacking side of the pitch
Chelsea
The chances created were better, and Havertz even had a shot off the center post at 27 that was almost good enough to score
Playing Félix on the left flank and having space on the counter-attack made him much more effective than playing in the center, he created many chances on the ball and was flexible throughout his runs, Dort's defense wasn't very tight.
Chelsea
Relying on Félix and Havertz to create more and more chances with a left and a right.
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Just before the end of the first half, Kovacic pressed down the left and was kicked out of space, but Chilwell was on hand to take the ball, he got down and played a high speed cross to the center of the 16 yard box, Sterling tried to make a first time clearance and missed, but the ball was still at his feet, Sterling calmly held the ball and dinked it past Reus for another powerful shot from 12 yards out.
Chelsea
Had created many chances in front of goal before this one, in Dort's half of the field
Chelsea
There could be a lot of space too, Dotel just putting EmreCan in the back obviously doesn't work.
Chelsea
Forcing them to fall back on both flanks, so that their own chances of attack are gone
As it turned out, at the start of the second half.
Chelsea
Chilwell's cross from the left hit Dortmund's right back Wolf's hand, the referee ruled it a 12-yarder after seeing the VAR and Havertz took the penalty, but the ball bounced off the post, but it didn't change the game, the referee ruled that Dortmund's player entered the penalty box early to re-take the penalty, and this time Havertz took the penalty firmly.
Chelsea
We're still in a very good position.
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Dodds is desperate to attack but it hasn't been working.
Chelsea
The defense was fairly consistent in not making mistakes, and Dort substituting Ozcan for Gittens in the 64th minute strengthened the offense, but
Chelsea
Félix was replaced and Gallagher was brought in to stabilize the midfield and keep the game at a standstill.
Chelsea
Then Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Zakaria and others slowly stabilized the situation, and Dort failed to create chances until the end of the game.
Chelsea
They eliminated Dortmund 2-0 and 2-1 on aggregate to reach the last eight.
In this game.
Chelsea
The 343 was full of pressure, especially Kovacic's good performance in the middle of the field, and Félix and Havetz were very active in the counterattacking state, which gave them more space to hold the ball in the opponent's half of the field, while Dortmund's formation was too far in front of the ball, and could not be forced.
Chelsea
With the defense committing turnovers and failing to produce effective shots, Bellingham's absence at the back was more of an issue for Dort, and ultimately the more consistent play of the
Chelsea
Win this game.
