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Karim Adeyemi celebrates his dream goal against Chelsea
Photo: WOLFGANG RATTAY / REUTERS
After FC Bayern's victory at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, the next Bundesliga team in the Champions League has now also beaten a top-class opponent: Borussia Dortmund won their round of 16 first leg 1-0 (0-0) against Chelsea.
Karim Adeyemi led Borussia to victory with a fantastic solo over half the pitch (63rd minute), a strong BVB defense was also noticeable against an overall disappointing Chelsea.
The second leg will take place in London on March 7th.
Chelsea FC was active in the winter with huge amounts of millions on the transfer market, but could only nominate three newcomers for the Champions League: Mykhailo Mudryk (70 million euros transfer fee), Joao Félix (11 million euros loan fee) and the Argentine World Cup surprise Enzo Fernández (120 million euros fee).
All three were in the starting XI.
Ukraine striker Mudryk had a promising chance in the second minute but was stopped by Nico Schlotterbeck with a perfect sliding tackle in the penalty area.
A balanced game developed in which BVB was well prepared for counterattacks by the more passive English team.
Nevertheless, the Blues had the first excitement on their side: Thiago Silva had put the ball into the goal after a free kick, but apparently deliberately used his hand to help.
The goal didn't count, the Chelsea captain saw a yellow card (16th minute).
Chelsea striker Joao Félix also caused a stir: in the 32nd minute he shot over the goal from a central position, six minutes later the Atlético loan came closer to 1-0, but only hit the crossbar from eight meters.
After six competitive wins in a row, Dortmund presented themselves confidently and with many good combinations, often over the in-form Julian Brandt.
However, for a long time the last idea and the last pass were missing to become really dangerous.
The only significant BVB chance of the first half came from Sébastian Haller, who fired into the side netting from a tight angle in the 27th minute.
Chelsea came out of the dressing room with new momentum and now pushed BVB more into their own half.
But it wasn't dangerous, especially Mudryk disappointed with many lost duels.
Dortmund also had all field players in their own half when they scored the opening goal, but after a Chelsea corner it happened quickly: Adeyemi sprinted from his own penalty area, got the ball in midfield, ran past a defender, rounded Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and had to just slide it in – 1:0.
The English tried to increase the pressure, but BVB defended self-sacrificingly.
The equalizer almost came in the 79th minute when defender Kalidou Koulibaly shot in the penalty area and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and Emre Can worked together on the line to prevent the 1-1.
In stoppage time, Kobel saved again – this time against a long-range shot by Fernández.
RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt are also represented from the Bundesliga, RB will meet Manchester City next week, and Eintracht will face Napoli.
Jan