
<p>Chelsea beat <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/borussia-dortmund-tv-schedule/">Borussia Dortmund</a> at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. The Germans entered the night with an advantage in the tie. The Bundesliga club <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/borussia-dortmund-benfica-start-ucl-knockout-round-with-wins-20230215-WST-420050.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previously beat Chelsea 1-0</a> in the first leg three weeks ago. Nevertheless, the Blues advance to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">Champions League</a> quarterfinals.</p>



<p>The visitors suffered a fairly significant blow early in the match on Tuesday. Julian Brandt had to be substituted inside the first four minutes of the game because of an injury. The German winger has had a solid season so far with nine goals in 31 goals. Brandt limped off of the pitch holding his left hamstring while the traveling fans filled Stamford Bridge with yellow smoke. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/usmnt-tv-schedule/">USMNT</a> midfielder Giovanni Reyna would enter the fray as the early substitute.</p>



<p>Kai Havertz nearly put <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a> ahead twice in the opening half. Despite not making great contact on the ball, the Germany international hit the post with a shot inside the box in the 28th minute. The ball struck the woodwork, ran across goal, and went out for a goal kick. Two more inches to the left and Havertz levels the scoreline on aggregate. He then put the ball into the back of the net 10 minutes later, but Raheem Sterling was ruled to be offside in the build up.</p>



<h5>Sterling finds breakthrough before halftime</h5>



<p>Nevertheless, Sterling would put the hosts ahead in the match only minutes from halftime. The England international initially whiffed on the ball while attempting a shot at the top of the box. However, the ball bounced back to the winger and Sterling emphatically struck a powerful right-footed shot into the roof of the net. It was the first time that the Blues scored in consecutive games in nearly two months.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RAHEEM STERLING LIFTS THE ROOF OFF OF STAMFORD BRIDGE! 💥 <a href="https://t.co/qB6i64wOD8">pic.twitter.com/qB6i64wOD8</a></p>— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1633210789258735617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Chelsea were then awarded a penalty just three minutes into the second half. Ben Chilwell attempted a cross into the area, but the ball struck Dortmund defender Marius Wolf’s outstretch arm. Match referee Dany Makkelie initially waved off the penalty claims; however, the spot kick was given after a VAR intervention. </p>



<h2>Havertz puts Chelsea up on Dortmund in Champions League tie</h2>



<p>Havertz would hit the post once again on the shot. Makkelie gave Chelsea another go at the spot kick because a Dortmund player encroached on the penalty area before Havertz made contact with the ball. The German wouldn’t make a second mistake and he <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1633217750406664192" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">put the ball into the net</a> to double Chelsea’s lead.</p>



<p>The penalty would end up being the final goal of the match. Dortmund’s defeat not only ends their 11-game winning streak, but it also knocks them out of the Champions League. Chelsea, on the other hand, qualified for the quarterfinals of the competition. The Blues also recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since October.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Action Plus</em></p>


Chelsea fought back to beat Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, back-to-back wins for the Blues.

Chelsea complete comeback over Dortmund in UCL


<p>Manchester City did what <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> couldn’t do on Tuesday: they won despite not playing at their best. The reigning <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> champions narrowly defeated <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a> at Stamford Bridge 1-0 on the night. </p>



<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">City</a> boss Pep Guardiola spoke about needing to be ‘<a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12780141/pep-guardiola-manchester-city-must-be-almost-perfect-to-beat-arsenal-to-premier-league-title" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">almost perfect</a>‘ to catch the Gunners prior to the game. Although they were far from perfect, City did pick up the three points.</p>



<p>Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the match on Thursday was the fact that Erling Haaland did not score. The superstar striker already has <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/goals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">21 league goals</a>. That’s more than the entire Chelsea team during the current campaign.</p>



<h5>Blues currently in injury crisis</h5>



<p>Chelsea entered the massive match with eight players sidelined due to various injuries. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/chelsea-win-but-reece-james-suffers-possible-injury-setback-20221227-WST-413535.html">Reece James</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/chelsea-players-kante-and-james-both-doubtful-for-world-cup-20221014-WST-404541.html">N’Golo Kante</a>, Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Armando Broja, Edouard Mendy and Mason Mount all missed the City game. Mount was a late scratch due to picking up a knock in training the previous day.</p>



<p>Injury issues for the Blues would only worsen on Thursday. Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic were both substituted early in the first half due to injuries. The attacking duo both appeared to have lower body muscle issues.</p>



<p>Despite the injuries, Chelsea started the game fairly well. They were the better side for the first 30-40 minutes. In fact, Haaland didn’t get touch the ball until 20 minutes into the match and City didn’t register a shot until the 33rd minute.</p>



<p>Nevertheless, City eventually woke up and soon put on the pressure. With the scoreline level 60 minutes into the game, Guardiola brought on Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez. Both players would link up for the lone goal on the night. The England international put in a low cross directly in front of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. All Mahrez had to do was connect with the ball to put it into the net from just a few yards out.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The champions break through at the Bridge!<br><br>Grealish finds Mahrez at the far post to put Manchester City ahead!<br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/peacock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peacock</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MyPLMorning?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MyPLMorning</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHEMCI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHEMCI</a> <a href="https://t.co/34ck8QaTqH">pic.twitter.com/34ck8QaTqH</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1611111275861344264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Although it was a good pass by Grealish, questions surely need to be asked of Kepa. The Spanish keeper was frozen as he watched the ball pass by right in front of him. It certainly seemed as if Kepa could have attempted to collect or clear the ball.</p>



<h2>Man City and Chelsea heading in different directions</h2>



<p>The defeat means that Chelsea remain in <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/tables" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10th place</a>. They are currently behind fellow London clubs Fulham and Brentford at the moment. The Blues have now collected just six points in their last eight league matches.</p>



<p>City, on the other hand, are now only five points behind league-leading Arsenal. The two clubs still have to face each other twice in the top flight this season.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Sportimage</em></p>


Man City inch closer to Premier League leaders Arsenal after a 1-0 win at Chelsea. The defeat keeps the home side in the middle of the table.

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