Chelsea vs Porto
Chelsea were back in European action on Tuesday evening, versus FC Porto.
Last time out, the Blues picked up a 2-0 win over the Portuguese outfit in the first of two Champions League quarter-final meetings.
Despite both games being played in Sevilla, last Wednesday’s tie represented Chelsea’s away leg, meaning they of course boasted a heavy advantage after netting two ‘away’ goals.
Nevertheless, Thomas Tuchel opted to field a strong starting line-up this evening, which included the front-three that tortured Crystal Palace at the weekend.
Team news is in! #CHEPOR pic.twitter.com/m3GoON4WVc
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 13, 2021
Chelsea into semi-finals
In truth, though, tonight’s game proved pretty much the complete opposite of what unfolded vs Palace.
The first half-chance of the day fell to Mason Mount seven minutes in, when the midfielder’s effort from the edge of the box was deflected out for a corner.
Jesus Corona was then nearly gifted a clear shot on goal after a poor clearance from Edouard Mendy, but Jorginho did well to block the chance.
Both sides, though, all told, were simply struggling to break the other down.
Chelsea did create a few decent chances from swift counterattacks, but seemed fairly happy to keep things tight and limit Porto’s opportunities, which of course made sense considering the Blues’ possession of a two-goal lead.
In turn, when the opening 45 drew to a close, the scoreline remained at 0-0, with Chelsea just a half of football away from their first Champions League semi-final since 2014.
0 – Chelsea v Porto is only the second match in this season’s UEFA Champions League to see neither side muster a shot on target in the first half, after Dynamo Kyiv v Ferencvaros in December. Ebbing. pic.twitter.com/QMtjdUOXs0
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 13, 2021
The second-half saw the ‘hosts’ continue to enjoy success on the break, as a last-ditch tackle from Chancel Mbemba denied Mason Mount 57 minutes in.
The first shot on target from either outfit eventually arrived after 65 minutes, when Mendy saved well from substitute Mehdi Taremi.
Porto, to their credit, did manage to pull one back with 93 minutes on the clock, but it was not enough to rescue the tie, with Chelsea now set to face one of Real Madrid or Liverpool in the competition’s semi-finals.
Pulisic earns Hazard comparisons
And though the clash itself this evening proved fairly dull, one player did stand out for Chelsea in Sevilla.
That man was Christian Pulisic, who finally appears to be regaining form amid a pretty poor season to date.
The American’s pace, skill and power proved a nightmare for Porto’s defenders, which led to him being fouled on countless occasions over the course of the 90 minutes.
Pulisic’s display even saw some of the Chelsea faithful compare the former Dortmund man with one of their side’s best-ever attackers, Eden Hazard:
Pulisic tonight is moving like Hazard 14/15 negl
— (@IbzSpeaks) April 13, 2021
Pulisic Pulisic Pulisic!! Pulisic reminds me of Eden Hazard tonight. Man is really frustrating Porto players #CHEPOR
— JustMe (@YoungbauseLarry) April 13, 2021
Pulisic being Hazard esque for us winning those constant fouls
— Mobolaji-sanni Seun (@SeunMobolaji) April 13, 2021
Yup. 2018 World Cup Eden Hazard is wearing 10 tonight for Chelsea.
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) April 13, 2021
Pulisic giving me Hazard vibes tonight
— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) April 13, 2021
#CHEPOR .. Pulisic today reminds me of E. Hazard !
— Saud CFC (@saudcfc) April 13, 2021
Pulisic is our hazard tonight
— Tejas Naik (@Tejasnaik01) April 13, 2021
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