Chelsea qualified for the knock-out stages of the Champions League with a 1-1 home draw with Atletico Madrid last night, but surrendered top spot to AS Roma.
As a result, Atletico dropped into the Europa League, while Chelsea’s opponents in the next round will be against a top seed, and their home game will be first leg.
Atletico were ahead through Saul Niguez's header at the far post, but Stefan Savic's own goal (75) from an Eden Hazard cross-shot levelled things up. Chelsea almost stole it late on, but Willian missed a clear chance, blazing over from 12 yards.
Eden HAzard was at the centre of everything again last night
Atletico, needing a win to have any chance of progressing to the next round, almost took the lead early on as Torres' deflected shot flew just over the bar, while at the other end Alvaro Morata almost put Chelsea in front as he curled inches wide after a delicate turn 20 yards out.
Moments later, Atletico keeper Jan Oblak saved from Morata and then was at his very best with a beautiful fingertip save from a Davide Zappacosta deflected shot to keep the scores 0-0 in the first half.
Oblak denied Chelsea again twice in quick succession after the break. Two headers: first from Andreas Christensen's, and then from a Morata header a moment later. Chelsea were rampant and should have been leading, but Atletico were holding stoically.
Niguez celebrates putting Atletico 1 up
And then, on 56 minutes Atletico scored. An outswinging corner was flicked on by former Chelsea striker Torres at the near post. The ball found the unmarked Niguez a few yards out, who then headed hometo give the Spaniards hope of qualifying for the next round.
Chelsea then upped the tempo even more, in desperate search of a goal. A draw wouldn’t be the worst result, especially from a goal down. Fabregas centred a ball in which was met by Christensen, who was clear in front of goal, but somehow glanced his header wide.
Chelsea finally broke the Spaniards down with about 15 minutes remaining, however. Eden Hazard’s attempted shot was fiercly struck across goal, which Savic turned into the roof of his own net. It was harsh on Atletico, but the least the Blues deserved.
Morata was guilty of some easy misses last night
A minute later, it should have been 2-1 to the Chelsea, but Morata wasted a one-on-one with Oblak, and moments later, Willian blazed his effort over from point-blank range when it was probably easier to score.
And the game ended 1-1 which means Atletico, whose Champions League pedigree has been second only to Real Madrid in recent years, are now in the Europa League, while Chelsea face the possibility of an early round draw against the likes of Barcelona, PSG or Bayern.
Sources:
www.bbc.co.uk
www.skysports.com
www.imgbb.com
