%201.png){kind=small}
That indifference had extended to their European campaign as well, as they just barely made it out of the group: 9 points was the lowest of any qualifier for the knockout round. However, they picked up 7 of those points at home, where they are now unbeaten since late August (7 wins, 3 draws in all competitions — the draws coming against Bayern, Manchester City, and Sevilla). Former Chelsea transfer target Niklas Süle anchors a decent defense, while future Chelsea transfer target Jude Bellingham is of course the big starboy in midfield — though Julian Brandt and Gio Reyna are no slouches either. Up front, occasional Chelsea transfer target Youssoufa Moukoko is a big loss through injury, though Sébastian Haller recently returned to action after beating cancer (! ) so compared to that, even beating Thiago Silva might be child’s play. Young forward Karim Adeyemi has not quite lived up to his next-Haaland billing, but former Manchester City youngster Jamie Bynoe-Gittens has two goals in his last five (substitute) appearances.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Chelsea, Champions League: Preview, team news, how to watchIt may be awhile before Chelsea qualify for the Champions League by finishing in the top-four of the Premier League, so I guess we’re just going to have to go on and win it instead. Written in the stars, a la 2012! That journey begins here, at Borussia Dortmund’s iconic Westfalenstadion and The Yellow Wall.
It’s going to be absolutely electric, and of course to truly mirror the 2011-12 season, we would have to go on to lose this first leg very badly, 3-1, and then win the second leg in extra time. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Also, let’s not lose this first leg. Date / Time: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 20. 00 GMT; 3pm EST; 1:30am IST (next day)Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, GermanyReferee: Jesús Gil Manzano (on pitch); Alejandro Hernández (VAR) — Manzano was in charge of our Round of 16 first leg last year, too, a 2-0 win over Lille.