Thomas Tuchel’s big call to drop Romelu Lukaku for the UEFA Champions League Round-of-16 clash against Lille paid dividends almost immediately. The Blues, much more fluid in attack, fashioned openings in the early stages of the game with two big chances falling at the feet of forward Kai Havertz.
The German flashed one over from close range minutes after the kick-off before drawing a save out of Leo Jardim with a low shot from the right. From the resulting corner, though, the midfielder rose highest to connect with Hakim Ziyech’s delivery and the net rippled – eight minutes in, Chelsea led Lille 1-0.
The Ligue 1 champions reacted strongly but were restricted to shots from distance by the Blues’ miserly defence. Shoot, they did, nine times at the Chelsea goal in the first half but only one of those troubling Edouard Mendy in goal. The second half followed in the same footsteps as the first: Lille outshot Chelsea, but the Blues made it count when presented with another good opportunity.
Sixty-three minutes in, Tuchel’s men caught Lille in transition. N’Golo Kante turned and ran with the ball in the middle of the pitch before releasing Christian Pulisic at just the right moment. The American, in behind the defence, had the awareness to lift the ball over an onrushing Jardim to put Chelsea 2-0 up.
The European Cup holders protected their lead until the final whistle and will protect it for, at least, a further 90 minutes, three weeks later in the second leg.
Elsewhere, 30 seconds into his Champions League debut, Dusan Vlahovic put Juventus ahead against Villarreal. The Serbian forward took Danilo’s long pass onto his chest before squeezing the ball into the net from a tight angle.
However, Villarreal equalized six minutes past the hour-mark. An unmarked Dani Parejo ghosted in behind the Juve defence and was picked out with an inch-perfect pass by Etienne Capoue, which the Spaniard swept past Wojciech Szczesny. 1-1 the match ended, with all to play for in the second leg.
