Match report as Hakim Ziyech and Emerson add to Olivier Giroud's goal in the first leg to secure Chelsea's Champions League progress; Stefan Savic sent off for violent conduct in closing stages
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| Image: Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal |
Chelsea progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals, beating Atletico Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday to complete a 3-0 aggregate win in the last-16 second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Olivier Giroud's spectacular overhead kick separated the sides in Bucharest three weeks ago, giving Chelsea a valuable one-goal advantage that was added to by Hakim Ziyech (34) during the opening half.
The Blues extended their record of never having been eliminated from a European knockout tie after winning the first leg away from home to 14 occasions and frustration got the better of Atletico in the closing stages.
Stefan Savic was dismissed for violent conduct (81) after elbowing Antonio Rudiger as Emerson Palmieri came off the bench in stoppage time and scored with his very first touch to complete a professional job by the hosts.
It is the first time Chelsea have reached the Champions League last eight in seven years and they are yet to lose in 13 matches under Thomas Tuchel in all competitions, making this now the longest unbeaten start to a tenure by any manager in the club's history, overtaking Luiz Felipe Scolari's 12 games in 2008.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Mendy (7), Azpilicueta (7), Zouma (7), Rudiger (7), James (7), Kovacic (7), Kante (8), Alonso (6), Ziyech (8), Havertz (7), Werner (7).
Subs: Pulisic (n/a), Hudson-Odoi (n/a), Chilwell (n/a), Emerson (n/a).
Atletico Madrid: Oblak (6), Trippier (6), Savic (5), Gimenez (6), Renan Lodi (5), Llorente (6), Koke (6), Saul (6), Carrasco (6), Joao Felix (6), Suarez (5).
Subs: Correa (6), Lemar (6), Dembele (6), Hermoso (5).
Man of the match: N'Golo Kante.
Team news
Kurt Zouma stepped in to Chelsea's starting line-up for the Blues' last 16 second-leg clash with Atletico Madrid.
Andreas Christensen was out of the squad altogether through illness, with Chelsea having no central defenders on their bench. Kai Havertz again started in a false nine role, with Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner adding the width.
Joao Felix and Luis Suarez both started for Atletico, with England's Kieran Trippier in defence as Diego Simeone's men sought to overturn a 1-0 deficit.
What the managers said
Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel says nobody will want to play Chelsea in the next round of the Champions League after they beat Atletico Madrid 3-0 on aggregate.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel: "It was a very good performance. Unbelievable team effort from the guys on the pitch, the guys on the bench, even the guys in the stands. You could really feel that we totally wanted it. We go through deserved. It's a big win for us.
"The amount of effort and intensity, and the team work over both legs was fantastic. We missed four or five key players today in Andreas, Thiago, Mason and Jorginho. But the guys are totally reliable and the intensity is incredible. We played very bravely and can adapt to any system the opponents played today. It's a deserved win and a big win as we're now in the quarter-finals. I'm really happy for my players.
"The most important thing is that we give feedback to the guys in terms of their quality and that they feel it. They need to feel it from the manager and they play with a certain bond. Results like this you can only do with a special atmosphere. I'm sure no one wants to play against us. We're in the last eight which is already a big step but there's no need for us to be afraid. We'll prepare for it in the best way possible."
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone:
"We worked hard to disrupt their rhythm but every time we regained the ball we couldn't impose ourselves on them. There were many elements of our game that pleased me, and there was an improvement in our game in the second half. I was pleased with the character but we ultimately fell short.
"I'm really well. We have to accept this reality. We have to keep improving and growing. We gave our best effort tonight but it wasn't enough.
"The fans will be feeling pain and disappointment but they will recover to think of the future. With work, we will get stronger and recover from this defeat. We had not one sense of fear. This is the Champions League, it's difficult and we came up against a superior team.
"Always it's better to win and to advance. We aren't thinking of this as allowing us to focus on the league. We will continue with the same application and energy that we take into the game with Alaves."
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone admits his side didn't do enough to beat Chelsea in their Champions League last-16 tie.
Man of the match - N'Golo Kante
N'Golo Kante produced a fine display for Chelsea.
It was only the third time that N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic were paired in the Chelsea midfield under Tuchel, more through necessity perhaps than design given the suspension of Jorginho, but Kante took his chance in his preferred role, protecting Chelsea's back three.
Atletico were given no chance to build pressure on Mendy's goal thanks to Kante's vital contributions, making two interceptions and gaining possession on 13 occasions, more than any other Chelsea player.
Even in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Pulisic played Emerson in for the second, Kante was up in support, rolling back the years. He turns 30 this month, but Tuchel only sees his quality.
"I never know the age of my players, I judge them only by their performance," he said. "It's a pleasure to be the coach of him and it's a big gift for me. He's so humble and such a help around the pitch. Don't underestimate his ability to run with quality and play under pressure. He alongside Mateo, they took all the weight on their shoulders and did a fantastic job."
'We can be happy about performance'
Ziyech scored his first home goal in 12 appearances at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea. He told BT Sport: "There were some difficult moments in the game but for most of the time we had it under control. It was an important goal and I had to wait a long time for it.
"It is always good when you go 1-0 up, especially when you make it by yourself. Timo's delivery was good as well. It was a bit like seeing how the game would go for 10 minutes and after that we had control. We did well.
"They didn't create a lot. We can be happy about the performance. Hopefully it will be a good opponent for the last eight."
Opta Stats - Chelsea end wait for knockout win
Ziyech slides beyond Jan Oblak to extend Chelsea's lead in the tie
Image: Ziyech slides beyond Jan Oblak to extend Chelsea's lead in the tie
After a run of four consecutive eliminations when appearing at the last 16 stage in the Champions League, Chelsea have progressed to the competition's quarter-finals for the first time since 2013/14 under José Mourinho.
Chelsea are yet to concede a goal in six home games under Thomas Tuchel in all competitions; indeed, the Blues have kept 11 clean sheets in 13 games under the German, more than any other Premier League club since his first game in charge in January.
Chelsea became the first English club to eliminate Atlético Madrid from the knockout stage of a major European competition since Gary Megson's Bolton Wanderers in the 2007-08 UEFA Cup last 32.
Atlético Madrid have now lost more UEFA Champions League games against Chelsea (four) than any other opponent.
In all competitions, Timo Werner (10 goals, 7 assists) has been directly involved in more goals this season than any other player for Chelsea.
Atlético Madrid defender Stefan Savic received his third UEFA Champions League red card; only Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edgar Davids and Sergio Ramos (all four) have had more in the competition's history.
What's next for Chelsea, Atletico
Chelsea host Sheffield United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday; kick-off is at 1.30pm. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are at home to Alaves in La Liga at 5.30pm.
Champions League key dates
Quarter-finals first legs: April 6/7
Quarter-finals second legs: April 13/14
Semi-finals first legs: April 27/28
Semi-finals second legs: May 4/5
Final: May 29 (Atatürk Olympic Stadium)
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