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Mar 17, 2021 at 8pm UK
ChelseaChelsea
2-0
AtleticoAtletico Madrid
Ziyech (34'), Palmieri (90+4')
Havertz (30')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Lodi (31'), Niguez (51'), Gimenez (60'), Koke (72')
Savic (82')

Result: Chelsea 2-0 Atletico Madrid: Blues advance to Champions League quarter-finals

:Headline: Result: Chelsea 2-0 Atletico Madrid: Blues advance to Champions League quarter-finals:
Hakim Ziyech and Emerson Palmieri struck for the Blues.
Sports Mole

Hakim Ziyech's sublime counter-attack finish helped steer Chelsea past Atletico Madrid 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and into a first Champions League quarter-final in seven years.

Timo Werner and Kai Havertz combined to create Ziyech's goal of graft and guile as Chelsea sunk 10-man Atletico 2-0 in the last-16 second leg in west London, and 3-0 on aggregate.

Emerson Palmieri drilled home late on to gloss the score and seal a fine victory, after Diego Simeone's Atletico had seen Stefan Savic sent off late on for elbowing Toni Rudiger.

Ziyech's first goal in 20 Chelsea appearances proved enough to settle an absorbing contest, where N'Golo Kante and Rudiger excelled for the hosts.

Boss Thomas Tuchel has required just 51 days at the Stamford Bridge helm to qualify for the Champions League quarters – a feat that had last been achieved by the Blues in 2014.

Former Paris St Germain manager Tuchel has pulled off quite the extended Chelsea honeymoon period, trading the muddled for the resolute, and overseeing 13 matches without defeat.

The Blues' last five Champions League campaigns petered out at the last-16 stage, but Tuchel's blueprint and his man management has paid immediate dividend.

Kante's transformation encapsulates Chelsea's revitalisation under Tuchel. Frank Lampard had been determined to deploy Kante in an inside-right role, unfamiliar to France's World Cup-winning defensive midfield linchpin.

That alteration failed to suit either Lampard's tactical approach, or Kante's strengths.

No sooner had Tuchel arrived however, than Kante was restored to his game-breaking role at the base of midfield, that so underscored Premier League title triumphs for both Leicester and Chelsea.

And here, when Chelsea needed his magnetic midfield qualities most, Kante delivered a vintage display.

Chelsea's 11th clean sheet in those 13 games under Tuchel provided the foundation for another landmark result, with the Blues coping manfully without the suspended Mason Mount and Jorginho, and injured duo Thiago Silva and Tammy Abraham.

Joao Felix ghosted briefly away from Kante and into the Chelsea box to open the night. But as the Portugal forward looked to pull the trigger, up popped Kante with a piece of trademark blindside pilfering, to lift the ball off his toe and quell the danger.

Werner worked himself free for a shot in the Atletico area, but his effort deflected wide off Ziyech's foot, with the ex-Ajax player unable to jump clear.

Rudiger barged Luis Suarez just outside the Chelsea area but got away without censure.

And then captain Cesar Azpilicueta enjoyed the reprieve of the half, the defender lucky not to concede a penalty.

Azpilicueta's under-hit backpass allowed Yannick Carrasco to sneak onto the ball and in on goal, and the Blues skipper promptly wrapped his arm and hand around the Atletico player's torso.

The winger threw himself to the ground in theatrical style, but despite the extra accent there was still enough contact to interest plenty of referees.

Neither the man in the middle nor the Video Assistant Referee felt the need for a penalty however, and Chelsea were able to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Chelsea quickly put that fortune to good use, Werner and Havertz combining well to tee up Ziyech's goal.

Werner hustled wide to deflect Kieran Trippier's cross into Havertz's path, jumping to his feet to race down the inside left.

Havertz found Werner haring clear, and the former RB Leipzig forward kept his cool to roll a smart ball to the far post.

Ziyech had tiptoed into a fine position in the box and promptly swept the ball home to cap a stunning break.

Chelsea opened the second half brightly, and Ziyech drew a fine save from Jan Oblak with a curling 18-yard effort.

Felix saw a rasping shot deflected wide as Atletico chased the game in increasingly fraught fashion.

And then the visitors had Savic sent off for elbowing Rudiger, with the defender storming off in disgust at the decision.

When Chelsea raced clear at the death, Christian Pulisic fed Emerson and the full-back did the rest with a smart finish, to cap a big night for Tuchel and Chelsea.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City31235366214574
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd30179458332560
3Leicester CityLeicester30175853341956
4West Ham UnitedWest Ham30157848371152
5Chelsea30149746301651
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs30147951321949
7Liverpool30147951361549
8Everton29145104138347
9Aston Villa291351142311144
10Arsenal30126124035542
11Leeds UnitedLeeds30133144748-142
12Crystal Palace30108123248-1638
13Southampton30106143953-1436
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves3098133041-1135
15Burnley3089132440-1633
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton30711123338-532
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3078153050-2029
18Fulham31511152441-1726
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom3049172559-3421
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3042241752-3514
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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City31235366214574
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd30179458332560
3Leicester CityLeicester30175853341956
4West Ham UnitedWest Ham30157848371152
5Chelsea30149746301651
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs30147951321949
7Liverpool30147951361549
8Everton29145104138347
9Aston Villa291351142311144
10Arsenal30126124035542
11Leeds UnitedLeeds30133144748-142
12Crystal Palace30108123248-1638
13Southampton30106143953-1436
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves3098133041-1135
15Burnley3089132440-1633
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton30711123338-532
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3078153050-2029
18Fulham31511152441-1726
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom3049172559-3421
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3042241752-3514
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