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      Atalanta vs Real Madrid FREE: Live stream, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for Champions League match TONIGHT

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      ATALANTA take on 13-time Champions League winners Real Madrid as they look for another fruitful season in the competition.
      Gian Piero Gasperini’s men made it to the quarter-finals of the 2020/21 competition before being beaten by two last minute PSG goals.

      Injury-hit Real Madrid face a tough trip to AtalantaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Zinedine Zidane’s visitors meanwhile will be looking to get back to stamping their authority on the competition after being outclassed by Man City in the season’s Round of 16.
      What time does Atalanta vs Real Madrid kick off?
      Atalanta take on Real Madrid on Wednesday, February 24.
      The match kicks off at 8pm UK time.
      It will be played at Atalanta’s Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.
      What TV channel is Atalanta vs Real Madrid on and can I live stream it?
      Atalanta vs Real Madrid is live on BT Sport 3.
      Coverage commences at 7.30pm – half an hour before kick-off.
      To stream the game live, head to the BT Sport website or app.

      Can I watch Atalanta vs Real Madrid for free?
      EE customers can get BT Sport INCLUDED to their plan at no extra cost if they are on a plan with Smart Benefits – simply log in to EE and choose BT Sport app.
      And then get it on the big screen by texting SPORT to 150 to get a FREE three-month trial of Large Screen so you can cast all the action on your TV.
      At the end of the three months you will automatically roll onto the £5 per month BT Sport Large Screen subscription unless cancelled.
      Team news
      Hans Hateboer is Atalanta’s only injury absence for this game against Real Madrid, with deputy Joakim Maehle set to fill in.
      In contrast, Real Madrid’s squad are filling up the treatment room to capacity.
      Star man Karim Benzema is the latest Galactico to be announced as missing this game.

      He follows captain Sergio Ramos, Eden Hazard, Rodrygo, Marcelo, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde in being ruled out.
      Latest odds
      Atalanta 5/4
      Draw 13/5
      Real Madrid 19/10

      *Odds from Ladbrokes correct as of Tuesday, February 23. More

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      Monchengladbach vs Man City: Live stream FREE, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for Champions League game TONIGHT

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      BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH welcome Man City tonight for a huge Champions League showdown.
      City have been outstanding since the start of the festive season in the Premier League and want to step up and finally win Europe’s biggest prize.

      Manchester City head to Budapest’s Puskas Arena for this Champions League tieCredit: Reuters

      Monchengladbach qualified from the same Champions League group as Real MadridCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But standing in their way is Marco Rose’s dynamic Gladbach team, who are suffering inconsistent form in the Bundesliga.
      What time does Borussia Monchengladbach vs Manchester City kick off?
      The match kicks off at 8pm UK time tonight.
      The game has been moved to Budapest’s Puskas Arena in Hungary because of Germany’s Covid restrictions.
      What TV channel is Borussia Monchengladbach vs Manchester City on and can I live stream it?
      Borussia Monchengladbach vs Manchester City is live on BT Sport 2.
      Coverage commences at 7pm – an hour before kick-off.
      To stream the game live, head to the BT Sport website or app.
      Can I watch Borussia Monchengladbach vs Manchester City for free?
      EE customers can get BT Sport INCLUDED to their plan at no extra cost if they are on a plan with Smart Benefits – simply log in to EE and choose BT Sport app.
      And then get it on the big screen by texting SPORT to 150 to get a FREE three-month trial of Large Screen so you can cast all the action on your TV.
      At the end of the three months you will automatically roll onto the £5 per month BT Sport Large Screen subscription unless cancelled.

      Team news
      The home side are missing Marcus Thuram, with the forward out due to a long-term knee injury.
      Meanwhile, defender Mamadou Doucoure has missed the last few games with a knee injury, but the knock is not thought to be a long-term concern.
      Nathan Ake is unavailable for Manchester City due to injury.

      Latest odds
      Monchengladbach win 10/1

      Draw 9/2
      City victory 3/10
      *Odds from Ladbrokes correct as of Tuesday, February 23. More

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      Chelsea blow with Mason Mount and Jorginho confirmed OUT of Atletico Madrid second leg through suspension

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      CHELSEA have been hit with a double whammy after Mason Mount and Jorginho were both ruled out of their Champions League second leg clash with Atletico Madrid.
      The midfield duo were both booked in last night’s 1-0 away win.

      Mason Mount will miss Chelsea’s second-leg against Atletico Madrid due to suspensionCredit: Rex Features

      Jorginho will also been suspended after his booking last nightCredit: Reuters

      And now the pair are suspended for the crunch return game at Stamford Bridge next month.
      After Olivier Giroud’s stunning winner in Bucharest, Tuchel admitted he will have to alter his plans when they meet again on March 17 after discovering he would be without the two stars.
      The Chelsea boss said: “We will miss two crucial players, it makes things not easy for us.
      “But I am very happy with the performance of everybody, that includes Mason of course.

      “Again, a good effort, a big effort, high work-rate, high intensity like we are used to when he plays like this. He has a big impact on our team.
      “Honestly, we now play Man Utd, Everton, Liverpool and Leeds, it is good like this. We cannot get comfortable, we cannot get lazy.
      “These games will push us to our limits, then we will think about our solutions for the second leg.”
      Mount and Jorginho were two of four Chelsea players walking a disciplinary tightrope going into the game.

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      Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech also picked up two cautions in the group stages, meaning another one would have also meant an automatic one-match ban in the competition.
      Kovacic started but escaped caution before he was replaced by Ziyech off the bench late on.
      Mount, 22, and Jorginho, 29, were not as lucky and will now have to cheer on their team-mates from the stands when Diego Simeone’s men head to the capital.
      However, the cards system is due reset following the last-16 stage.
      That means if the Blues finish the job against Atletico to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in seven years, then Kovacic and Ziyech’s yellow cards will be wiped off.
      But should any player be sent-off then they will face the usual sanction if the Blues do progress.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Watch Chelsea fans tease Marcos Alonso with new ‘don’t be slow’ chant as team arrive in Bucharest for Atletico clash More

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      Chelsea fans mocked Atletico Madrid as ‘Spanish Burnley’ trends on Twitter after Simeone’s boring defensive display

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      CHELSEA fans took aim at the below-par Atletico Madrid last night – with ‘Spanish Burnley’ trending on Twitter.
      The Blues claimed a 1-0 win over Diego Simeone’s Atleti on Tuesday with comparisons made between the LaLiga side and the Clarets.

      Diego Simeone was forced to defend Atletico Madrid’s approach against ChelseaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Sean Dyche’s Burnley are notorious for their tough-to-beat style, while not being afraid of sitting deep and playing long balls forward.
      Many fans and pundits accused Atletico of a lack of ambition against Chelsea, failing to fire off a shot on target while controlling just 37 per cent of possession.
      Los Rojiblancos’ pass success rate of 75 per cent was a tick above Burnley’s average this season (71.4 per cent) but some way off their opponents in the Champions League last-16 first leg (86.6 per cent).
      The defensive stance taken by Simeone’s side, along with images of the Atleti defence sitting very deep, led to fan taunts online.

      One Chelsea fan on Twitter claimed: “The LaLiga title challengers?? More like the Spanish Burnley.”
      Another added: “Atletico Madrid are the Spanish Burnley…. Ffs 6 defenders.”
      A Blues supporter remarked: “You people actually thought this Spanish Burnley side can score against Chelsea.”
      While one fan account tweeted: “Realise we’re actually playing against the Spanish Burnley today.”

      One snapshot of Atletico’s deep defence caught fans’ eyes

      A spectacular Olivier Giroud goal won the first leg in BucharestCredit: EPA

      And one Clarets fan joked: “Spanish Burnley is trending. We have triggered so many fanbases and I absolutely love it.”
      Atletico sit top of LaLiga by three points, having scored the second-highest number of goals and conceded the lowest number.
      Rio Ferdinand told the BT Sport studio that Spanish football was in a sorry state if that was the sort of performance put in by its best team, who knocked out Liverpool at this stage of last year’s competition.
      The ex-defender stated: “This is a big reflection how poor LaLiga is at the moment, Atletico didn’t really threaten.
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      We need to have more of the ball and position ourselves better in attack. We’ll work on it.
      Diego Simeone

      “Chelsea seemed to coast, it was a fantastic finish, and they didn’t get tested after that. Not being at the stadium helps as well. They feed off that and probably lost that edge as well.”
      Atletico have won only one of their last five in all competitions and fell on Tuesday night to an Olivier Giroud overhead kick.
      The return leg takes place on March 17 at Stamford Bridge, and coach Simeone vowed to improve his side before then.
      The Argentine told reporters: “We’ll be playing against an opponent with speed and will need to be able to stop it, to deal with forwards like Giroud and other powerful players.

      “We need to have more of the ball and position ourselves better in attack. We’ll work on it, but we also have an important game against Villarreal.
      “Work, work, work. I trust the team we have.
      “If we were in the month of September and they told me we would have lost [to Chelsea] but we’re still leading [LaLiga], I’d sign for it.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel reveals he tried to sign Luis Suarez for PSG as he tries to stop Atletico goal machine More

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      Watch Luis Suarez sneakily pinch Antonio Rudiger’s thigh as Atletico star pulls all his old tricks in Chelsea loss

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      LUIS SUAREZ sneakily pinched Antonio Rudiger’s thigh as the Atletico Madrid striker pulled all his old tricks in defeat to Chelsea.
      The Blues head into the last 16 second leg with a crucial away goal after veteran striker Olivier Giroud scored a stunning bicycle kick.

      Luis Suarez sneakily pinched Antonio Rudiger’s thigh

      Luis Suarez infamously bit Chelsea legend Branislav Ivanovic in 2013, earning him a ten-game FA banCredit: Pixel 8

      But for his opposite number, it was a more frustrating night, with LaLiga leaders Atletico not managing a single shot on target.
      And it appeared to get on top of Suarez, who was captured pinching Rudiger, causing the German to square up to the forward.
      Suarez will not only be remembered by Chelsea fans for his prolific scoring for Liverpool – but also for his bite on Branislav Ivanovic in 2013 that saw him banned for ten games.
      And he was in another menacing mood against the Blues as he tried to provoke captain Cesar Azpilicueta, who was on the field with Ivanovic all those years ago.

      Suarez flicked his leg out at the Spaniard but still went down looking for a free-kick.
      Just moments later, he clattered into Callum Hudson-Odoi, which was adjudged as a foul.
      Chelsea legend Joe Cole referenced Suarez’s infamous bite and cheeky pinch on Rudiger.
      The BT Sport pundit joked: “When you’re telling off your kids and they go from biting to pinching, you’re doing alright.”

      𝟓𝟓 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐮𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐳… pic.twitter.com/xPgnORGhvB
      — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 23, 2021

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      Rio Ferdinand added: “The referee is never going to see that. He’s a street fighter.”
      Giroud’s acrobatic effort is all that separates the sides going into the return leg at Stamford Bridge on March 17.
      Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel said: “Fantastic result, fantastic goal. Well deserved.
      “We wanted to dominate in the opponents’ half, to never lose concentration, not to do any easy mistakes and always be aware of quick counter-attacks for all their quality.

      Olivier Giroud scored a stunning bicycle kickCredit: Rex Features

      Olivier Giroud’s acrobatic effort is all that separates the sides going into the return legCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS
      “It was a very disciplined performance – a deserved shut-out. This is the hard work, a team effort – the basis for a big win.
      “We knew it [Atletico packing their defence] could happen. We told the guys if it happens maybe it’s our quality and the respect.
      “I wanted them to be brave and play in their half. We knew they were ready to suffer with eight people in the box.
      “The intention was to keep the intensity high. This is what we did very good. We never let them breathe or come out for counter-attacks.
      “We have a big reward with this result. This is one of the toughest challenges to open a defence like Atletico.”

      Tottenham vs Wolfsberg FREE: Live stream, TV channel, date, kick-off time and team news for Europa League game More

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      Lazio 1 Bayern Munich 4 LIVE REACTION: Lewandowski notches as defending champions rout Lazio in Rome – latest updates

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      BAYERN MUNICH produced a brilliant performance to rout Lazio 4-1 in Rome.
      RESULT: Lazio 1-4 Bayern Munich
      Bayern XI: Neuer, Kimmich, Sule, Boateng, Davies, Goretzka, Alaba, Musiala, Coman, Sane, Lewandowski
      Lazio XI: Reina, Patric, Acerbi, Musacchio, Lazzari, Milinkovic-Savic, Lucas, Luis Alberto, Marusic, Correa, Immobile
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      Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
      When is Lazio vs Bayern Munich?
      Lazio vs Bayern Munich takes place on Tuesday, February 23.
      It will kick off at 8pm UK time.
      The Stadio Olimpico in Rome – with no fans in attendance – plays host.

      THAT’S ALL FROM THE OLIMPICO
      Bayern Munich have made a decisive leap towards the Champions League quarter-finals thanks to a 4-1 win over Lazio at the Olimpico.
      The hosts committed a raft of errors that led to three goals for Bayern in the first half.
      It all started when Mateo Musacchio’s careless pass back to Pepe Reina ended up at Robert Lewandowski, who opened the scoring after just nine minutes and became the Champions League’s all-time third top goalscorer.
      Jamal Musiala then made some history of his own as he became the youngest ever English scorer when his long-range shot from the edge of the box doubled the visitors’ lead on 24 minutes.
      Lazio lost possession in midfield again and the ball was picked up by Kingsley Koman whose blocked shot led to an unmarked Leroy Sane making it 3-0 three minutes before half-time.
      The Serie A giants’ woes continued in the second half just two minutes after the referee’s whistle when Sane’s pass to Lewandowski inside the box deflected on Francesco Acerbi who accidentally got an own goal.
      Lazio pulled themselves together shortly after and got a beautiful goal by Joaquin Correa, who danced around Bayern’s defence before beating Manuel Neuer after 49 minutes.
      But Simone Inzaghi’s men couldn’t capitalise on their late surge in form and are now after at least four goals in the return leg next month.
      That’s all from us, have a lovely night!

      GETTY IMAGES

      GORETZKA REACTS TO MUSIALA GOAL
      Bayern Munich star Leon Goretzka was very impressed with Jamal Musiala, who was filling in for Thomas Muller.
      Goretzka advised Musiala to relax and play freely throughout the game and made sure he as well as Joshua Kimmich provided him with enough support throughout the encounter.
      The midfielder said: “I think he was delighted to start today and we told him to play freely because that is what makes him so good. 
      “Jo [Kimmich] and I tried to make his life easier by supporting him from deeper in midfield”

      GETTY IMAGES

      INZAGHI REACTS
      Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi believes his team “scored three of the four goals” for Bayern Munich but insists there should have been a penalty after Robert Lewandowski’s goal when Jerome Boateng and Segej Milinkovic-Savic collided inside the box.
      Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia: “Unfortunately, we’d said this week with the lads that we should play our game. We felt the occasion too much, we were tense against the world champions, but we basically scored three of the four goals for them.
      “If the penalty had been given for 1-1, that might’ve changed the game, but none of it went our way tonight. We can learn from this experience in order to grow and be stronger in future.
      “Disappointment in the locker room is natural, but it’s already an achievement for us to be here. In games at this level, you need to be at 100 per cent, to do everything right and hope the opponents aren’t at their best.
      “We knew the kind of team we were facing. I think we’d started well before the error for the opening goal, and there should’ve been a penalty when it was still 1-0.
      “If we look at it, we’re talking about the Club World Cup winners and we scored three out of four goals for them. You can’t make those mistakes at this level.
      “Nonetheless, I think we had shots on goal too. Nobody is saying Bayern didn’t deserve to win, but it was already complicated anyway and then our errors made it even more of an uphill struggle”

      GETTY IMAGES

      MUSIALA SHINES
      Bayern Munich’s young English ace Jamal Musiala stood out against Lazio thanks to his glittering performance at the Olimpico.
      Musiala doubled Bayern’s lead after 24 minutes with a wonderful shot just outside the box.
      The 17-year-old made history as he became the youngest ever English player to score in the Champions League.
      The England under-21s international is now the second youngest goalscorer in the competition’s knockout stage, behind Bojan Krkic

      GETTY IMAGES

      RETURN LEG
      Bayern Munich’s 4-1 win over Lazio at the Olimpico is making things very hard for the Serie A giants ahead of the return leg.
      The two teams are going to meet again on March 17 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
      Lazio will have to score at least four goals to advance, provided they don’t concede any.
      If Bayern hit the target once then Simone Inzaghi’s men will still need four goals that will take the game to extra-time

      STATS
      Bayern Munich dominated a mere 56.3 per cent of possession and still scored four goals.
      Bayern had a total of 13 shots, seven of which were on target, compared to the hosts who had 14 shots, but five were on target.
      Both Manuel Neuer and Pepe Reina were busy throughout the game as they both had to make four saves.
      The referee also had his hands full as he showed seven yellow cards, five of which went to Lazio players

      FT: LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      Bayern Munich have made a decisive leap towards the Champions League quarter-finals.
      Lazio endured a nightmare of a first half with a raft of mistakes that saw them conceding three goals.
      Bayern picked up the lead after just nine minutes when Mateo Musacchio’s weak pass back to Pepe Reina was picked up Robert Lewandowski who sent the ball to the back of the net.
      Jamal Musiala then made history as the youngest ever English scorer in the competition when his powerful shot from the edge of the box doubled his team’s lead in the 24th minute.
      Lazio gave the ball away in midfield again and thus Kingsley Coman picked it up and his blocked shot led to an unmarked Leroy Sane netting the visitors’ third just three minutes before half-time.
      The hosts’ mistakes continued in the second half as Sane’s pass to Lewandowski inside the box led to Francesco Acerbi getting in the way and scoring an own goal just two minutes after the referee’s whistle.
      Lazio pulled themselves together and got a beautiful goal by Joaquin Correa who danced around Bayern’s defence before beating Manuel Neuer on 49 minutes.
      But the Italian giants couldn’t produce anything else and are now facing a mountain of a task in Munich

      PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
      AND THAT’S FULL-TIME AT THE OLIMPICO!!!!!!!

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      90+3 CHANCE
      Alaba tries a free-kick from 25-odd yards but sends the ball wide of the mark

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      90 Four more minutes of stoppage time to go until full-time.
      Lazio really need another goal if they want to hope for a shock comeback in Munich

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      89 SUBSTITUTION
      Bayern make another couple of changes with Choupo-Moting replacing Musiala and Sarr taking Sane’s place

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      87 Bayern don’t seem too keen to score another goal as all their focus falls on ball possession.
      After all, as it stands, Lazio will have to score at least four goals in Munich to advance in the quarter-finals

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      84 Lazio are still pushing for at least another goal but continue to make errors in defence.
      That comes down to Bayern’s brilliant pressing from their high lines

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      81 SUBSTITUTION
      Lazio make another change as Cataldi replaces Milinkovic-Savic and Akpa Akpro takes Alberto’s place

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      81 CHANCE!
      Acerbi picks up a header from a corner-kick on the right side but sends the ball wide

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      80 CHANCE!
      Another defensive mistake by Lazio as Reina gives the ball away with a poor clearance.
      Lewandowski gains possession inside the box but his shot is blocked by the former Bayern keeper

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      78 CHANCE!
      Lazio ace Hoedt gets a header following Alberto’s corner-kick from the left.
      The hosts are in desperate need of at least another goal that would make a comeback in the return leg in Munich possible

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      76 SUBSTITUTION
      Bayern make another switch as Hernandez takes Koman’s place

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      75 YELLOW CARD
      Yellow cards are starting to mount up as Coman gets cautioned for a late challenge on Marusic

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      72 YELLOW CARD
      Kimmich becomes the first Bayern player to be booked for protesting.
      Referee gave a foul to Lazio from a good position after Lazzari went down at the edge of the goal line under pressure by Davies.
      There didn’t seem to be contact in that challenge but the referee deemed it a foul, which didn’t sit well with Kimmich.
      Nothing came off the free-kick

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      69 YELLOW CARD
      Another yellow for Lazio after Escalante’s cynical tackle on Lewandowski.
      The Bayern star got clear and the Laziali ace brought him down with a nasty tackle from behind

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      68 Lazio have been very pacey in the last few minutes and are gaining a great deal of possession.
      Where was all that in the first half…?

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      66 CHANCE
      Bayern ace Alaba fires a beautiful free kick from the right flank and just misses Reina’s post

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      65 Bayern’s defence has been quite shaky in the second half.
      The visitors have yet to find a way to contain Alberto, Milinkovic-Savic and Immobile who are showing some great chemistry with their passing football

       LAZIO 1-4 BAYERN
      64 CHANCE!
      Lazio are showing some good skills in the last few minutes.
      Milinkovic-Savic finds Immobile who fires a powerful shot from the edge of the box that is saved by Neuer

      Load more entries… More

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      Atletico Madrid 0 Chelsea 1 LIVE REACTION: Giroud scores incredible bicycle kick to seal Blues victory – latest updates

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      CHELSEA produced a brilliant performance to beat Atletico Madrid in Bucharest thanks a bicycle kick from Olivier Giroud.
      The Blues were brilliant throughout while Atletico struggled to get going during the last-16 first leg clash.
      RESULT: Atletico Madrid 0-1 Chelsea
      Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Hudson-Odoi, Kovacic, Jorginho, Alonson, Mount, Giroud, Werner
      Atletico XI: Oblak, Llorente, Savic, Felipe, Hermoso, Koke, Saul Niguez, Lemar, Correa, Joao Felix, Suarez

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      Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…

      GOODNIGHT FROM ROMANIA
      It may only be half-time in the tie – but that’s all from us in Bucharest.
      Chelsea are in control, and head back to London with a slender lead courtesy of a gorgeous goal from a gorgeous man.
      Olivier Giroud’s overhead kick may be the only difference in the scoreline, but the Blues will be confident of completing the job at Stamford Bridge such was their dominance over Atletico Madrid this evening.
      The return takes place next month, and we’ll be in position to bring you all the action as it happens.
      Until then, thanks for reading and goodnight.

      BLANKING IN BUCHAREST
      Their defence breached, an away goal conceded, and barely a sniff for their strikers. It’s been an awful night for Atletico Madrid, who registered only six attempts on goal in Romania, none of which were on target.

      CALLUM’S REDEMPTION
      Someone is in a better mood than they were at the weekend.

      TUCHEL REACTION
      Thomas Tuchel was delighted with his side’s performance after a hard-fought first leg victory in Bucharest. He spoke to BT Sport at full-time.

      It’s a fantastic result and a fantastic goal, it was well deserved. It’s half-time and we know that only too well. It’s one of the toughest challenges to open up a defence like Atletico’s, but we can, and we will not stop pushing.
      Thomas TuchelBT Sport

      BLUE WALL
      While much of tonight has focused on Atletico Madrid’s defensive strengths, the Chelsea backline has clocked up yet another clean sheet.
      Since Thomas Tuchel came to the club and switched to a back three, the Blues have conceded just twice in eight games – one scored by Takumi Minamino and the other an own-goal from Antonio Rudiger.

      In Tuchel’s first eight games as #CFC coach, Minamino is the only opposition player to score. Remarkable. #ATMCHE
      — Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) February 23, 2021

      OLIVIER’S TWIST
      Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud was the matchwinner with an acrobatic overhead kick, and he’s been discussing both his contribition and his side’s performance.

      We came here with strong intentions to win the game. We knew how we could give them trouble offensively, and I think we’ve been very strong at the back. I think it’s a deserved win. We just need to stay focused and finish the job at home.
      I just tried focus on hitting the ball well and was pleased to see it in the net. I didn’t know if I was offside or not, but Mason [Mount] told me he didn’t touch it and that it came from the defender. It’s good for the team, it’s good for me.
      Olivier GiroudBT Sport

      GIROUD’S GENIUS
      Relive the moment when Olivier Giroud sent Chelsea fans head over heels.

      Oh my, Olivier Giroud! 😍He just loves scoring worldies, doesn’t he!?VAR initially ruled the goal out but it stands as Mario Hermoso was deemed to have deflected the ball onto the Frenchman 🙌 pic.twitter.com/CAweQ8SzAR
      — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 23, 2021

      ADVANTAGE CHELSEA
      The Blues take a one-goal lead back to London. It would take a history-making effort from Atletico in the second leg to deny the Premier League club a place in the quarter-finals.

      13 – This is the 14th time Chelsea have won the first leg of a European knockout tie away from home; they have progressed on each of the previous 13 occasions. Marker. pic.twitter.com/cD75ZNKIeZ
      — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 23, 2021

      FT: ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      A disappointing match, but a brilliant result for Chelsea. The Premier League side were superior throughout and worthy of a victory earned when Olivier Giroud’s spectacular overhead kick was awarded by VAR, having originally been disallowed for offside.

      PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES IN BUCHAREST!

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      90+6. Vitolo catches James on the knee with his studs. It’s a naughty challenge but nothing comes of it because the Chelsea substitute made such a little fuss of it.
      Perhaps he just wants to get on and celebrate a superb away victory in the Champions League.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      90+5. The ball is stuck up by the corner flag. This will do for Chelsea.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      90+3. Now it’s Chelsea’s defence that have dropped deep. Koke is denied in his attempts to wrestle his way through the crowd, and then Lemur leaves one on Pulisic.
      It brings a booking for the French winger.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      90. In the final minute of the 90, Havertz finds himself in possession with his side three-on-two.
      The young German just needs to get his pass right and Chelsea are in. Unfortunately, he doesn’t.
      There will be a minimum of six added minutes.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      88. Dembele does well to keep the ball in play, and then tries to pick out Suarez with a cross. Christensen intervenes to calm Chelsea nerves.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      86. Of course, it’s hard to get any attacking momentum when substitutes are being made every other minute.
      Here’s two more: Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz are introduced to the Chelsea ranks with Olivier Giroud and Timo Werner making way.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      85. Dembele is playing alongside Suarez in a more conventional front two, but Atletico are struggling to change their mindset from the defensive one that been their stance for so long.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      84. And another one! Vitolo comes on for Mario Hermoso.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      81. And it’s a triple change from Diego Simeone. On come Renen Lodi, Moussa Dembele and Lucas Torreira, off go Saul, Angel Correa and Joao Felix.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      80. Another Chelsea switch as Reece James comes on for Callum Hudson-Odoi.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      79. Now Rudiger and Suarez square up to each other as the latter wins a corner.
      The Chelsea defender is not happy with the Uruguayan, and jabs him in the face with a finger. Replays show that Suarez had pinched Rudiger’s thigh as the pair tussled for possession.
      Boys will be boys.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      77. Will that Chelsea goal spark Atletico into life? The La Liga side are committing men forward, and have upped the tempo.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      74. A double substitution for Chelsea. N’Golo Kante and Hakim Ziyech are on for Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount.

      ATLETICO 0-1 CHELSEA
      72. Chelsea lead with a vital – and superb – away goal.
      After close to three minutes of video review, Felix Brych points to the centre-circle to speak wild celebrations from the visitors.
      The debate came from whether the ball was diverted into Olivier Giroud’s path by Mason Mount or Mario Hermoso.
      Ultimately, it was deemed that it was the Atletico defender who purposefully played the ball to the Chelsea striker, and therefore Giroud being in an offside position was irrelevant.

      GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!VAR OVERTURN THE DECISION AND GIROUD’S STRIKE STANDS!!

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      in Soccer

      Chelsea verdict: Giroud is the Blues’ only world class striker… they must offer him a new deal after Atletico heroics

      by

      CHELSEA went eight games unbeaten since Thomas Tuchel took over as head coach after beating Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League. 
      They got the vital ‘away’ goal to take back to Stamford Bridge on March 17th, and Tuchel will be very pleased with the result in the relocated Bucharest clash. 

      Olivier Giroud deserves a new deal after his brilliant winner against Atletico MadridCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Giroud is a vital player for Chelsea and deserves another extensionCredit: EPA

      It doesn’t tell the whole story though, as once again the German boss cut a frustrated figure at times in the first half with Chelsea misplacing pass after pass, and looking clueless in the final third once again. 
      This has been a bit of a theme from the last few games for this Chelsea side, and they have really lacked any kind of creativity and finesse. 
      The build-up play was good tonight, and they totally bossed possession against a good team. But it looked like being the same story as time went on and they did not look like scoring. 
      That is of course until Olivier Giroud popped up with a world-class overhead scissor kick to win it, reiterating exactly what he brings to this team and exactly what he can do. 

      Chelsea needed it, and they needed a touch of proven quality to end all their hard work in possession. Atletico were there for the taking, and Giroud made sure they took it. 
      His contract is up at the end of the summer, and this is another stark reminder and message to the decision makers at the club that must to try and persuade him to stay.
      Every team needs a Giroud in their squad.
      When things are getting frustrating and you cannot see where a goal is going to come from, up steps the French World Cup winner to show you what he does best. 

      Chelsea do not have another type of striker like Giroud, one who is physically built, holds the ball up, and can be a world class finisher of a chance. 
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      The vital match stats

      You would think that the Chelsea board will be doing all they can to try and keep him at the club for another year.
      Because despite what new strikers might arrive or be pursued by Chelsea, you always feel that Giroud is a needed experienced figure in the squad. 
      Whether he will want to stay and play a bit-part role as he has been doing is another question, but I am sure the thoughts are there on both sides now. 
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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