Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell scored two vital away goals to help Chelsea to a 2-0 victory in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals over Porto.
Both legs are scheduled to be played in Seville due to coronavirus protocols but the Blues took control of the whole tie with a tough fought victory over their Portuguese opponents at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Tuchel’s Chelsea bounce back from heavy defeat
Thomas Tuchel’s side saw their 14-match unbeaten streak come to an end with a thumping 5-2 defeat by Premier League strugglers West Bromwich Albion but the German manager believes their reaction can benefit the team in the long run.
Tuchel said: ‘It was a tough match against a strong Porto side.
‘There were many moments where we suffered but we accepted it because the circumstances are different when it is the quarter final of the Champions League.
‘The spirit was good and it is an excellent result away from home.
‘We had a big loss at the weekend but we were ready to respond and there will always be setbacks in sport but the biggest challenge is to bounce back.
‘We have had a lot of wins together, we’ve had a loss together and now we have had a reaction after a loss which brings us closer together and increases the trust in the team which is very important.’
Porto on top early on
Porto unsettled Chelsea early on with high pressing and physicality and as a result had multiple opportunities to take the lead.
Mateus Eribe controlled and volleyed from the edge of the box narrowly went over the bar with Edouard Mendy routed to the spot.
The Portuguese side were dominant from set pieces and Otavio Monteiro’s corner almost sneaked in at the near post before Zaidu Sanusi slashed the loose over the bar from six yards out.
It took the Blues over half an hour to gain control of the ball in the final third and they made the most of that possession as Mount expertly turned Sanusi before arrowing a low shot across goal and into the bottom corner to give Chelsea the lead with their first shot of the game.
However, Porto went close to equalising on the brink of half time as Pepe’s powerful header was well saved at the near post by Edouard Mendy.
Scrappy second half
Following the break, Timo Werner went close with a header in the opening minute of the half rising highest in the box but the German’s header went just over the bar.
However, the second half followed a similar pattern Porto had the better chances but could not breakthrough the resolute defence of Chelsea.
Moussa Marega had the chance to equalise when the Malian ran in behind Antonio Rudiger but his shot from a tight angle was well closed down by Mendy to save.
Luis Diaz then went close for the home side but snap-shot from the edge of the box went narrowly wide of the far post.
The match the turned very scrappy with both teams breaking up the play with constant fouls.
The Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta spurned a golden opportunity to double the lead from a resulting free-kick as his free header from six yards out flashed wide of the near post.
In the last 10 minutes of the match spaces started to open up for Chelsea to attack and substitute Christian Pulisic was played in behind by Mateo Kovacic before the American rattled the crossbar with his first-time effort.
Seconds later Chilwell was rewarded for his desire to chase the ball down and latched onto a loose touch from Jesus Corona to run through on goal and the Englishman expertly rounded goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin before tapping into the empty net to give the Blues a crucial two-goal cushion going into the second leg.
