It felt fitting that, eight years after suffering stoppage-time heartbreak against Real with Atletico Madrid in Lisbon, Thibaut Courtois was Los Blancos’ impenetrable wall here, defiantly stifling Liverpool throughout – breaking the record for most saves in a Champions League Final with nine, producing greatness with the lights shining brightest on a career-defining night. Continue reading
Tag: Chelsea
Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid: Benzema hat-trick leaves UCL holders with mountain to climb
After conjuring up magic to save Real Madrid from the brink of elimination against PSG in the previous round, it was again Karim Benzema’s night – this time in west London – as two first-half headers and pouncing on Edouard Mendy’s early second-half mistake has now confined Champions League holders Chelsea to an unenviable second leg recovery mission on April 13. Continue reading
Report: Timo Werner working with agent to engineer summer departure from Chelsea
According to recent reports, which have only intensified over this ongoing international break, the 25-year-old – a £49m signing in 2020 – could be set to depart on a permanent basis once the current campaign is concluded at a cut-price fee after a disappointing stint in west London. Continue reading
Carabao Cup Final: Liverpool’s fullback duo show their mettle against wasteful Chelsea
After riding their luck at times against another wasteful Chelsea showing, Liverpool emerged victorious in yesterday’s action-packed Carabao Cup Final – winning 11-10 on penalties. However, it was again the individual displays of Jurgen Klopp’s formidable fullback pairing which stand them in good stead for the rest of the season with more silverware up for grabs. Continue reading
Gabriel’s gritty all-round display against Wolves shines a light on volatile Arsenal
The 24-year-old produced his best individual display of the season and needed to, in helping ten-man Arsenal squeeze past an increasingly frustrated Wolves showing. But while Mikel Arteta’s men revelled at full-time after ending a five-game winless run, this determined away display just reiterated how unpredictable they have proven under the Spaniard’s guidance. Continue reading
Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea: Lukaku the matchwinner as Blues complete comfy comeback
Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to score his first Premier League goal for 107 days, as the Belgium international defiantly dismantled Aston Villa’s backline once again during an eventful second-half ensuring they didn’t lose further ground in their title charge after defending champions Manchester City won a nine-goal thriller against Leicester elsewhere on Boxing Day.
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Juventus 1-0 Chelsea: Chiesa the catalyst as ponderous Blues stifled in Turin
Federico Chiesa’s winner, 11 seconds into the second-half, felt inevitable after multiple warning signs were ignored but typified just how Chelsea – with their 73% possession and half-chances galore – laboured through proceedings in Turin. If Thomas Tuchel’s men are going to successfully defend their Champions League crown, they can’t afford more displays like these. Continue reading
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Havertz, Salah ensure points are shared in tense affair
Liverpool and Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the new Premier League season continued on Saturday night with a 1-1 draw at Anfield, but this latest meeting wasn’t without controversy and tempers flaring on both sides after Reece James’ contentious dismissal in first-half stoppage-time, changing the complexion of an entertaining clash between two title hopefuls.
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Kai Havertz seizes big moment as Chelsea seal second Champions League triumph
After an eventful first campaign in England packed with trials and tribulations, Chelsea creative midfielder Kai Havertz scored the Champions League-sealing winner overnight in the biggest game of his blossoming career to date – sinking Premier League champions Manchester City. Continue reading
FA Cup Final Preview: Chelsea vs Leicester – Time to step up
A lot has changed for both sides in the four months since their last meeting, a 2-0 Leicester win propelling them top of the Premier League while confining the Blues to their fifth league defeat in a month under Frank Lampard. Under new management and with a Champions League Final to come on May 29, will Thomas Tuchel’s men prove a step too far for the bullish Foxes here?
Rúben Dias and Timo Werner, the tale of contrasting summer signings
Considering what has proved an arduous campaign for all involved this term, it feels fitting two big-money summer signings – Manchester City centre-back Rúben Dias and Chelsea forward Timo Werner – helped their respective sides to earn a Champions League Final berth on May 29.
That was quick: Jose Mourinho agrees Roma deal, replacing Paulo Fonseca in July
15 days after Tottenham dismissed him just before their first domestic Cup final since 2014-15, Jose Mourinho has emerged as Paulo Fonseca’s successor at Serie A side Roma, announcing hours earlier that his compatriot’s existing deal would not be renewed beyond this summer.
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