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César Azpilicueta (left) and Reece James had everything under control defensively
Photo: CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP
For the first time since the 2013/14 season, Chelsea are back in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
After 2-0 (1-0) in the first leg, coach Thomas's team lost the second leg against FC Porto 0-1 (0-0).
Mehdi Taremi's goal in stoppage time (94th minute of play) came too late for the Portuguese.
Both games of this quarter-finals took place in Seville, Spain, due to travel restrictions in the wake of the corona pandemic.
In the semifinals, the English club will face either Real Madrid or Liverpool FC.
Real had won the first leg 3: 1 (2: 0), on Wednesday (9 p.m.; TV Sky) the second leg will take place in England.
"We're not changing our approach," Tuchel, when asked about the 2-0 cushion, said before the game.
And indeed there were some parallels to the first leg.
Chelsea largely left the ball to Porto, who usually pressed early, and concentrated on preventing goals - and doing it extremely effectively.
A week ago, the Portuguese club had the better scoring chances, but did not take advantage of them.
Chelsea, on the other hand, had only a few opportunities, but were efficient in front of the opposing goal.
In the second game at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, good scoring chances were in short supply on both sides.
Because of the starting position, it was less bad for the Blues than for the reigning Portuguese champions.
Chelsea made the space narrow, presented the opponent hardly any gaps, but did not consistently play their own counter-opportunities to the end.
Two deflected shots, one by Mason Mount (8th), the other by Jesus Manuel Corona (11th) initially provided a half-chance on both sides.
Corona shot clearly over the goal from twelve meters (33rd).
It didn't get any more dangerous before the break.
Even after the break, there was no play for Porto.
The Portuguese then tried it with high balls in the direction of the penalty area, but were also left behind against the Chelsea defensive in the air.
After just under an hour, the Portuguese seemed either tired, frustrated, or both.
Chelsea subsequently appeared on the offensive more often without taking unnecessary risks.
Substitute Taremi had a good head chance for Porto with a header (65th), and Chelsea's back team didn't allow anything until well into stoppage time.
There Taremi had his big entrance after all.
With an overhead kick he hit ten meters too late.
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