Chelsea are not having the best season in the English Premier League so far, being beaten 4-1 by Brighton, Chelsea experienced a surprise PL defeat. However, despite the team being in the top 6 of the Premier League ladder, their campaign in the UEFA Champions League is looking much stronger. A victory over Dinamo Zagreb yesterday concluded the league group stage, with Chelsea finishing top of Group E. Now, the knockout stage awaits to see how far Chelsea can progress this season.
Chelsea defeat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1
An early goal by Croatian opponents Dinamo Zagreb was not enough to prevent Chelsea from emerging victorious in their final UEFA Champions League group stage game last night.
Bruno Petkovic scored right on the seventh minute for Dinamo Zagreb, with an excellent touch that put the Croatian club ahead early. However, sitting solidly bottom of the Group E ladder, Dinamo Zagreb were quick to remember why they lost four of their six games in this Champions League when Raheem Sterling scored midway through the first half. The striker could have grabbed two more before halftime, but he missed both of his chances.
However, debutant Denis Zakaria did not waste his chance in the first half. The 25-year-old midfielder seized the opportunity in his first start since being signed by Chelsea two months ago, hitting his shot inside the post around the half hour mark to put Chelsea ahead. The scores would stay that way for the rest of the match, leaving Chelsea with 13 points at the top of Group E.
Chelsea through to the knockout stage
With the UEFA Champions League group stage now complete, Chelsea will advance to the round of 16.
Sixteen teams advance to this knockout stage, with the eight group winners receiving a seed. The eight runners-up will remain unseeded. Opponents are randomly drawn from the unseeded pot and are paired against the seeded pot, with neither team allowed to play a team from their previous group. Bettors will be excited to see who are now the favorites to take home the title and may wish take a look at these tips to stay up to date once the draw for the first round of the knockout phase has been announced. Having placed first in their group, Chelsea will be given an unseeded opponent to play.
A three-month gap awaits before the first round of the knockout stage, with matches beginning in mid-February.
Pre-World Cup concern after Chelsea game
Chelsea’s victory yesterday was marred by an injury to England defender Ben Chilwell.
Chilwell appeared to suffer a strained hamstring late in stoppage time against Dinamo Zagreb. Although the 25-year-old got up and played the remaining seconds of the game, he had to be carried off the field after the game. This injury has prompted cries for the Premier League to be put on hiatus between now and the World Cup, with critics arguing the continued action will further damage England’s chances at the tournament.
Such a stoppage could possibly work in favor of Chelsea, with some worried about how their remaining games will play out anyway.
