London (AP) – Defending champions FC Chelsea have created good conditions for entering the quarter-finals in the Champions League.
The team of German coach Thomas Tuchel lived up to their role as favorites against the French OSC Lille and won 2-0 (1-0) on Tuesday evening. The strong German national soccer player Kai Havertz initiated the success. In addition, FC Villarreal and Juventus Turin separated 1: 1 (0: 1).
Ex-Leverkusener Havertz, who had moved into the storm center for the weak Belgian Romelu Lukaku, scored at London’s Stamford Bridge after just eight minutes. Lukaku, on the other hand, stayed on the bench for 90 minutes. Outsiders Lille played well but struggled with the strong Chelsea defense and posed little threat in front of Africa Cup of Nations winner Edouard Mendy’s goal.
“I think we knew it was going to be a very difficult game. The first half was really difficult for us. They played good football. It’s half-time now. And I think we have to win the next game too,” said Havertz and added, looking ahead to Sunday’s League Cup final against Liverpool: “The most important thing is that we carry on now. We have a tough game again on Sunday.”
Even two injury failures in a short time did not change the superiority of the hosts. Within ten minutes Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech limped off the pitch at Chelsea. Shortly after Saul Niguez Esclapez came on for Ziyech, however, former Dortmund player Christian Pulisic (63rd minute) made the decision with his goal. Tuchel’s team is also the clear favorite in the second leg.
Dusan Vlahovic was even faster than Havertz for his new club Juventus Turin in the round of 16 first leg at FC Villareal. Vlahovic, who came from AC Fiorentina in the winter for around 70 million euros, scored the lead for Turin after just 33 seconds and thus surpassed the old record for a debutant from Andy Möller. The 1990 World Champion scored the opening goal for Borussia Dortmund in the 3-1 draw against Juventus after 37 seconds on his debut in the premier class on September 13, 1995.
After the lead, the Italian record champions’ defense was safe for a long time. In the middle of the second half, however, Daniel Parejo managed to equalize for the Spaniards in El Madrigal (66′). Not undeserved, especially since Villarreal invested a lot. The round of 16 second legs in Lille and Turin will take place on March 16.