Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid: Chelsea Cruise Into Champions League Quarters

Thomas Tuchel stated "super hungry" Chelsea have their sights set on reaching the Champions League last after Hakim Ziyech ended his objective drought to encourage a 2-0 win towards Atletico Madrid within the last-16 second leg on Wednesday. Morocco ahead Ziyech grabbed his first objective since October to place the hosts forward within the first half at Stamford Bridge. Emerson got here off the bench to attain the late objective that sealed a cushty 3-0 combination victory over the lacklustre La Liga leaders. Including to Atletico's distress, Stefan Savic was despatched off within the closing levels for elbowing Antonio Rudiger within the abdomen.

Whereas Chelsea have been the superior aspect for lengthy durations, Atletico may justifiably declare they need to have had penalty for Cesar Azpilicueta's problem on Yannick Carrasco when the rating was nonetheless 0-0.

Tuchel admitted it may have been a penalty, saying: "Azpi got a bit frightened because his ball was short, I was a bit frightened as well."

However Atletico boss Diego Simeone added: "We are not looking for excuses. We were beaten by a better team. We tried to press them up the field, but couldn't attack the way we like."

That was the one main scare for Chelsea as they prolonged their unbeaten run to 13 matches since Tuchel changed the sacked Frank Lampard in January.

Tuchel boasts the longest ever unbeaten begin by a Chelsea boss after transferring previous Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Revitalised by Tuchel, Chelsea have conceded simply two targets in his temporary reign and are on a run of six consecutive clear sheets in all competitions.

"A very good performance, unbelievable effort. I could feel we totally wanted it," Tuchel stated.

"We enjoyed the battle. The guys were totally on and sharp. We were super hungry to go through."

Main Chelsea into the final eight for the primary time since 2014 is one other feather in Tuchel's cap because the German eyes a return to the Champions League last following his defeat with Paris Saint-Germain towards Bayern Munich final season.

"They play with a special bond. Fixtures and results like this give you a certain edge to achieve special things. I'm pretty sure no-one wants to play against us," Tuchel stated.

"Quarter-final means there's only four games (until the final). It's a big step and feels excellent."

Chelsea, Champions League winners for the one time in 2012, had been eradicated within the first knockout stage of their final 4 appearances.

However they by no means regarded in peril of shedding the 1-0 lead given to them by Olivier Giroud's overhead kick within the first leg in Bucharest.

Azpilicueta escape

Crucially, Azpilicueta escaped with out punishment when the defender's under-hit back-pass allowed Carrasco to nip forward of him within the penalty space.

Azpilicueta responded with a panicked tug that despatched Carrasco tumbling however Atletico's penalty attraction was controversially rejected by referee Daniele Orsato, with VAR bizarrely opting to not intervene.

Simeone's anger solely elevated as Chelsea made probably the most of their luck to take the lead within the thirty fourth minute.

Timo Werner now has simply two targets in his final 27 appearances for Chelsea.

However Tuchel backed Werner to return good this week and the Germany ahead repaid his supervisor's religion with a powerful efficiency capped by the important thing contribution to Ziyech's opener.

Breaking at tempo after Werner blocked Kieran Trippier's cross, Kai Havertz fed his team-mate on the left flank.

Werner accelerated away from the out-of-position Atletico defence earlier than clipping a perfectly-weighted move into Ziyech's path.

Unmarked 10 yards from objective, Ziyech completed Chelsea's thrust with a scientific strike.

Promoted

Savic's frustration boiled over within the 81st minute as he was dismissed for a useless elbow that drew a theatrical fall from Rudiger.

With Chelsea's injured defender Thiago Silva roaring on Emerson from the stands, the left-back blasted residence from Christian Pulisic's move in stoppage-time, sparking a wild celebration that encapsulated the feel-good issue fuelling the Blues at current.