Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea score, result, highlights and analysis as hosts prevail in Champions League first leg
Chelsea head coach Graham Potter said his players “need to do better” at defending counter-attacks after an electric run and cool finish from Karim Adeyemi condemned the Blues to a 1-0 defeat in their Champions League Round of 16 first leg at Borussia Dortmund.
Adeyemi raced much of the length of the pitch on a blistering break, beat Enzo Fernandez and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and slotted in the composed second-half winner as the Bundesliga side continued a sublime start to the calendar year that has now seen them claim eight wins from eight games in all competitions.
Joao Felix hit the bar with a close-range shot before the break as Chelsea’s poor run extended to one win in their last nine games, scoring only four goals along the way.
“You always need a bit of luck, but you can’t wait around for luck,” said Potter, who saw strikes by Fernandez and Reece James thwarted by springing saves from Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
“It is a counter-attack from a corner. We were close to scoring ourselves. They broke on us. It is disappointing and we need to do better. Apart from that, we were really, really good — we just have to score.
“You have to keep working. The boys have been fantastic with their work, but we are still suffering at the moment.”
Chelsea had been unbeaten in five European games under Potter, who guided them to the top of their group during the early months of his reign after taking over in October.
In an absorbing, unpredictable game at a boisterous Signal Iduna Park, Sebastien Haller — returning after treatment for cancer — hit the side-netting with a strike from a tight angle and Emre Can cleared off the line when Kobel was unable to hold a fierce drive from inside the penalty area by Chelsea’s Kalidou Koulibaly.
Dortmund have the distinction of winning the first-ever competitive match between the sides and know that another clean sheet at Stamford Bridge on March 7 will guarantee their place in the quarterfinals.
Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea final score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| B. Dortmund | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goals:
DOR — Karim Adeyemi — 63rd min.
Cutting edge eludes Chelsea
Potter must have hoped that a return to Champions League action would remind his squad of the serene start to his tenure, which began with a group stage draw at home to RB Salzburg in October to launch a nine-game unbeaten run.
Chelsea fans may feel like those days are a distant memory right now, but their side did the double over Milan by a 5-0 aggregate scoreline, won in Austria, and beat Dinamo Zagreb in their final match of the group stage.
That victory over Dinamo preceded their current worrying slump of two wins in 13 matches, coming either side of Potter’s first defeats as manager on his return to Brighton & Hove Albion and against Arsenal at home.
With more than half the season gone and the top-four places 10 points away, the colossal spenders know that their success in the competition itself is probably their best chance of competing in the Champions League next season.
Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Felix made their debuts for Chelsea in the competition, and all three played enterprising parts at times in a performance that would have produced a positive result had the Blues been as clinical as Adeyemi was for the winner.
Chelsea are at home to Southampton and Leeds United either side of a visit from Tottenham Hotspur next in the Premier League.
“It was a very strong performance, especially during the second half,” said Potter. “We created a lot of chances and efforts on goal, but I am disappointed with the goal we conceded.
“I thought we were the dominant team in the second half. It is half-time in the tie and we have to regroup.”
In-form Dortmund march on
Dortmund have been perfect since domestic football in Germany returned following the 2022 FIFA World Cup, although this win was one that would leave the booming home fans fraught with nerves on occasion.
Joint-top scorer Youssoufa Moukoko missed out with an ankle injury he suffered at the weekend, and captain Marco Reus started on the bench in a youthful team full of cavalier energy.
England midfielder and Dortmund captain Jude Bellingham, as usual, was at the centre of much of their best work, while 23-year-old centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck was part of a solid defence who were perhaps thankful for Chelsea’s frequent wastefulness.
After losing eight times in their unsuccessful previous 10 attempts at beating English opposition, the team who have risen to third in the Bundesliga — a mere three points behind leaders Bayern Munich — were not unduly dwelling on the nature of their victory.
“It was a tough start to the game for us,” admitted Adeyemi, speaking to DAZN. “But then you could see that everyone was fighting for each other and we knew something was possible here tonight.
“It’s a case of new year, new luck. For me, it’s that simple. As a team, we talked a lot during the break and it brought us closer together.
“The win tonight was crucial and it was unbelievable to play in front of these fans. We wanted to give Chelsea a tough game from start to finish and we’ve won.”
Dortmund have not lost at home since August 2022, when Werder Bremen needed goals in the 93rd and 95th minutes to record a remarkable top-flight comeback win against them.
Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea live updates, highlights from Champions League
FULL-TIME: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea
Hakim Ziyech swings a cross from the right into Gregor Kobel’s arms with the last set piece of the game, then the goalkeeper denies a glorious long-range effort from Enzo Fernandez by tipping the shot wide again.
Dortmund win their seventh game out of seven in 2023 and earn the advantage ahead of the second leg! Thanks for following our live blog — we’ll have a report and analysis at the top of this page shortly.
89 mins: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea
A royal rumble is taking place on the touchline near the technical areas. Most of the players and several of the coaching staff seem to be involved.
Niklas Sule takes exception to a member of Chelsea’s entourage trying to retrieve the ball. Mason Mount exchanges words with him. It fizzles out in the end. Julian Ryerson is booked alongside Sule, meaning the newcomer will miss the next leg.
86 mins: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea
“If you can’t put the ball in the net, these away trips in Europe are going to be very different,” points out former Leeds player Lucy Ward on BT Sport. It’s a valid point as Dortmund close in on an eighth win since the World Cup.
83 mins: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea
Joao Felix sends a shot from a promising position outside the penalty area low and straight at Gregor Kobel. He should do better from there.
80 mins: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea
If this scoreline stays the same, the focus might be on Chelsea’s lack of a finishing touch again – but they couldn’t have done much more.
Dortmund have been resilient and entertaining, as their visitors have been. The second leg should be a stormer.
77 mins: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea
Hakim Ziyech wins a free-kick level with the penalty area on the left, which Gregor Kobel punches clear.
Chelsea then can’t believe their luck as a cross from the right – started by another dangerous Hakim Ziyech incursion – sits up for the unlikely figure of Kalidou Koulibaly, who swings a thumping shot straight down the throat of Kobel.
With such power on the strike, the goalkeeper can only partially keep it out, and Emre Can knocks it off the line. Chest bumps all round for Dortmund!
74 mins: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea
Dortmund’s Julian Ryerson has been introduced for his Champions League debut, replacing Marius Wolf in defence.
70 mins: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea
Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella comes on for Mykhailo Mudryk, who receives a pat on the back from Graham Potter. Ben Chilwell also supplants Mason Mount.
68 mins: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea
Some Chelsea staff had a sodden time after that goal, evidently…
65 mins: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea
While the Dortmund fans are still savouring that back flip from Karim Adeyemi to mark his incisive finish, Chelsea prepare changes.
63 mins: GOAL – Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea (Karim Adeyemi)
Dortmund are ahead! It’s a goal appropriate for an end-to-end contest, Karim Adeyemi racing much of the pitch on the left, surely relishing the sight of Enzo Fernandez being the last man back.
Adeyemi beats Fernandez with ease, then repeats the trick when Kepa advances and rolls a finish into the back of the net from the left with some of the coolness Chelsea have lacked in front of goal tonight.
61 mins: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea
Gregor Kobel to the rescue again! Reece James thuds a half-volley downwards inside the penalty area, skidding up towards goal.
Kobel shows elasticity to leap rapidly upwards and tip this one over the crossbar.
58 mins: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Chelsea
Joao Felix’s corner from the left is punched away at his far post by Gregor Kobel. Chelsea have got to find more of a cutting edge if they are to reward their efforts at the start of this second half.
55 mins: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
James almost scores! Gregor Kobel has to be alert to keep his free-kick out, rising to his left to palm the curling effort away.
53 mins: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Reece James wins a free-kick in a dangerous position after cutting inside on a dazzling run and drawing a foul from Emre Can. This is within range for several Chelsea players.
51 mins: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Encouraging work from Chelsea, who threaten on the edge of the Dortmund penalty, allowing Enzo Fernandez a sight of goal which he uses to crash a shot against Jude Bellingham.
50 mins: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Jude Bellingham is not a happy man after sliding in on Ben Chilwell near the halfway line and being booked for the challenge.
He clearly thinks it was a late rather than dangerous attempt to win the ball.
48 mins: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Ben Chilwell wins a corner off Emre Can after entering the penalty area on the left. Joao Felix sees his corner from the same side cleared.
46 mins: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea head coach Graham Potter seems to be strenuously making a point to assistant Billy Reid as he emerges from the tunnel.
Potter’s side keep the ball for the first minute of the second half, pushing the ball out to Mykhailo Mudryk on the left and seeking out space.
Half-time: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
That was some half. Dortmund have had far more chances and could have scored through Sebastien Haller and several of his teammates, but finishing has let both sides down, most notably through two good chances for Hakim Ziyech and Joao Felix, who curled one effort well wide when well-placed and another against the crossbar from close range!
We’re yet to see a shot on target during this game, but it doesn’t feel like that. Dortmund have also had almost 60% of the possession.
43 mins: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has had his head in his hands a few times during the first half. This isn’t a great game for any manager’s nerves, but he’ll surely be aware in the back of his mind that a draw would be a commendable result here.
41 mins: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Joao Felix hits the crossbar! The forward does brilliantly to deceive Nico Schlotterbeck inside the penalty area after picking up a low pass from Kai Havertz, then lift beyond Gregor Kobel and against the woodwork!
38 mins: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Karim Adeyemi lofts a curling shot narrowly over the crossbar following a Dortmund corner from their left. Either side could easily have scored at least once, with a bit more ruthlessness and precision.
36 mins: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
It’s been a typically composed performance from Thiago Silva. Both defences have been at full stretch at times.
34 mins: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Joao Felix blazes over! The Portugal international was alert to a perceptive Hakim Ziyech pass in front of goal but couldn’t keep his composure. Chelsea are pushing.
32 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
The chances keep flowing one way and the other. Mykhailo Mudryk attempts to locate Kalidou Koulibaly with a neat pass inside the penalty area, only to see the flag go up.
30 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Sebastien Haller hits the side-netting! Julian Brandt did excellently there, tearing through the centre and releasing the striker to his right when he must have been tempted to shoot. It’s an acute angle for Haller, though, who ripples the wrong side of the net.
27 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea have been under some pressure again during the last few minutes. This time Kai Havertz heads a corner away.
24 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Jude Bellingham has been an influential presence during this first half, as you’d expect. The midfielder takes aim from a central position and sees a shot deflected over.
22 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
That disallowed goal for Chelsea seems to have given Borussia Dortmund greater urgency. This time Marius Wolf slams a chance wide for them, failing to make clean contact.
19 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea have the ball in the net! Thiago Silva bundles Reece James’ curling right-wing delivery over the line, but the Brazil defender raises an apologetic hand to indicate the limb he used to score.
Thiago is then booked for his trouble following a VAR review.
17 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
They’ve made a convincing case for this description tonight…
15 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
This is an end-to-end contest so far, proving as unpredictable as that Chelsea starting lineup. Kalidou Koulibaly gets in the way of Karim Adeyemi’s effort this time.
13 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
A familiar pattern as Nico Schlotterbeck clears a corner from Joao Felix with a firm header. Chelsea will find plenty of encouragement from these opening stages as they look to improve on four goals in their last eight games.
11 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Having seen Chelsea do little with that corner, Dortmund surge to the other end and win two corners of their own after Thiago sends one attack behind and Emre Can has a shot deflected wide. The hosts can’t profit from either.
9 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Dortmund are struggling out on their right wing again. Joao Felix shows nimble feet and quickness of thought to win another corner.
7 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Reece James is booked after a late challenge on Karim Adeyemi. Then Joao Felix wins a corner on Chelsea’s left, failing to cause any significant danger with the inswinger.
5 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
The game has settled down a little, but Mykhailo Mudryk looks such a threat on the left, lofting a cross towards Kai Havertz from beyond level with the penalty area.
3 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
This has been a breathless start to the game. First, Dortmund attack an abundance of space inside the Chelsea half, ending in Julian Brandt seeing an angled shot blocked by Enzo Fernandez, who does well in a defensive position Chelsea won’t want to see him spend too much of this game in.
Mykhailo Mudryk then flies towards the opposing penalty area at that blistering speed Chelsea fans know he has, and it takes a perfect Nico Schlotterbeck tackle at full stretch to quell the danger.
1 mins: Dortmund 0-0 Chelsea
Dortmund send the action underway and keep the ball for the opening minute. They look suitably confident after such a good run here since almost the start of the season.
5 mins from kickoff: Ex-Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole is enjoying what he’s seeing already here at a stadium booming with noise.
“This is what you do it for, nights like these,” Cole tells BT Sport. “Look at that. As much as we admire American sports, they admire us for the passion and the fans.
20 mins from kickoff: Make sure you give our dedicated football channels on Twitter and Instagram a follow for all the latest football updates, stats, analysis and more.
They’re as essential a pairing for football fans as the visiting full-backs tonight are to Chelsea.
40 mins from kickoff: England midfielder Jude Bellingham will be leading Dortmund along this corridor as captain tonight.
The hosts will go more than six months without losing at home if they avoid defeat tonight and when Hertha visit in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
60 mins from kickoff: Confirmation of that Chelsea starting side as they target victory in the first ever competitive fixture between these teams. Unpredictable, as usual.
80 mins from kickoff: Team news! Dortmund start like this: Kobel (GK) – Wolf, Schlotterbeck, Sule, Guerreiro – Ozcan, Emre Can, Adeyemi, Brandt Bellingham – Haller
For Chelsea, it’s Arrizabalaga (GK) – James, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly, Chilwell – Ziyech, Fernandez, Loftus-Cheek, Felix, Mudryk – Havertz.
A reminder that joint-top scorer Youssoufa Moukoko is out for the hosts.
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120 mins from kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ coverage of Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea’s return to European action in the Champions League Round of 16!
Unbeaten under head coach Graham Potter in the Champions League but on a run of one win in eight games in all competitions, Chelsea would likely settle for a fourth successive draw when they travel to a Dortmund side on a tremendous run of form.
The hosts have not been beaten since the return of domestic action following the FIFA World Cup, putting them three points shy of leaders Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. They’ll hope that transfers to this competition, in which they won two of their group games and drew their final three to qualify for this stage behind Manchester City.
Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea confirmed lineups, team news
Dortmund are healthy for the most part, but do have a few important role players missing.
Youssoufa Moukoko and Abdoulaye Kamara picked up knocks over the weekend and missed out. Moukoko’s injury saw Sebastien Haller start up front, having returned from testicular cancer.
Thomas Meunier is still returning from a muscle injury, while Mateu Morey has been out for most of the season with a knee injury. Gio Reyna started the weekend league match with Karim Adeyemi suspended for yellow card accumulation, but the latter returned against Chelsea.
Borussia Dortmund confirmed starting lineup (4-5-1): Kobel (GK) – Wolf, Schlotterbeck, Sule, Guerreiro – Ozcan, Emre Can, Adeyemi, Brandt Bellingham – Haller.
Chelsea are slowly getting healthier as they push through their injury crisis into the second half of the season, but there’s still a lot of work to do.
Reece James has returned to game action, and a host of players have returned to training, including Christian Pulisic, Wesley Fofana, and Mateo Kovacic. Raheem Sterling has a knee injury.
In defence, Kalidou Koulibaly will likely be brought into the team after Benoit Badiashile was left out of the Champions League squad.
N’Golo Kante and Denis Zakaria are close to returns as well, but have not yet finished their treatment plans, while goalkeeper Edouard Mendy remains sidelined with a broken finger. Graham Potter kept Ruben Loftus-Cheek in midfield at the continued expense of Mason Mount.
Chelsea projected confirmed lineup (4-5-1): Arrizabalaga (GK) – James, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly, Chilwell – Ziyech, Fernandez, Loftus-Cheek, Felix, Mudryk – Havertz.
What time is Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea?
The match between Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea will be played at Signal-Iduna Stadium and will kick off at 21:00 local time in Dortmund, Germany.
Here’s how that time translates in time zones across the world:
Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea date, time
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA | Wed, Feb. 15 | 15:00 ET |
| Canada | Wed, Feb. 15 | 15:00 ET |
| UK | Wed, Feb. 15 | 20:00 GMT |
| Australia | Thu, Feb. 16 | 07:00 AEDT |
| India | Thu, Feb. 16 | 01:30 IST |
| Hong Kong | Thu, Feb. 16 | 04:00 HKT |
| Malaysia | Thu, Feb. 16 | 04:00 MYT |
| Singapore | Thu, Feb. 16 | 04:00 SGT |
| New Zealand | Thu, Feb. 16 | 09:00 NZDT |
How to watch Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea
Here’s where to watch the Round of 16 first leg in select regions around the world:
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| Australia | Thu, Feb. 16 | 07:00 AEST | — | Stan Sport |
| Canada | Wed, Feb. 15 | 15:00 ET | — | DAZN |
| Hong Kong | Thu, Feb. 16 | 04:00 HKST | beIN Sports 3 | beIN Sports Connect |
| India | Thu, Feb. 16 | 00:30 IST | Sony Ten 2 | Sony LIV, JioTV |
| Malaysia | Thu, Feb. 16 | 04:00 MT | beIN Sports 3 | beIN Sports Connect, sooka |
| New Zealand | Thu, Feb. 16 | 09:00 NZST | — | Spark Sport |
| Singapore | Thu, Feb. 16 | 04:00 SST | beIN Sports 3 | beIN Sports Connect, StarHub TV+ |
| UK | Wed, Feb. 15 | 20:00 GMT | BT Sport 1 | BT Sport App, BT Sport Ultimate |
| USA | Wed, Feb. 15 | 15:00 ET | CBS, TUDN, UniMas | fuboTV, Paramount+, VIX+, TUDN App, Univision NOW |
UK: The match will be carried by BT Sport’s TV and streaming platforms.
USA: Fans in the USA can watch the match on CBS (English), UniMas and TUDN (Spanish). Those same channels will be streamed on fuboTV, which is available on a free trial for new users. Paramount+ and ViX+ will also stream the matches for subscribers.
Australia: Every UEFA Champions League match streams ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.
Canada: Every Champions League match in Canada can be streamed exclusively on DAZN.