Cesar Azpilicueta scored the winner as Chelsea came from behind to beat Lille 2-1 and advance to the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Amid questions over Chelsea's ability to travel and play in Europe because of EU sanctions imposed on their owner Roman Abramovich, the Blues kept their continental campaign alive by seeing out a 4-1 aggregate success in the last-16 tie.
Burak Yilmaz put Lille in front at Stade Pierre-Mauroy when he drilled home a spot-kick, but Christian Pulisic restored parity in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.
Xeka hit the post for Lille in the second half but Azpilicueta ended their hopes of progression and ensured it was holders Chelsea who were in the hat for the quarter-final draw.
Chelsea struggled to turn their dominance of possession in the opening half an hour into chances and saw Andreas Christensen hobble off injured in the 33rd minute.
Lille were awarded a penalty when Jorginho was deemed to have handled the ball after referee Davide Massa reviewed the video footage, with Yilmaz firing home to halve the aggregate deficit.
However, Chelsea restored their two-goal cushion in the tie before half-time when Pulisic guided Jorginho's excellent throughball into the bottom-left corner.
Yilmaz angled a header wide shortly after the restart, while Antonio Rudiger bent a half-volley narrowly outside the post from the edge of the box on the hour mark.
Xeka headed a cross from Yilmaz against the upright before Azpilicueta met Mason Mount's cross at the back post and steered the ball past Leo Jardim to clinch victory in the 71st minute.
What does it mean? History for Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel was taking charge of his 50th Champions League game at Stade Pierre-Mauroy and he made history by beating Lille.
It was his 32nd victory in the competition, which is the most by a manager upon reaching a half-century of games. He surpassed the mark set by Zinedine Zidane, who won 31 of his first 50 matches as a coach in the Champions League.
Cesar's a lad you can count on
Azpilicueta marked moving level with Didier Drogba on 74 major European appearances for Chelsea with a finish the iconic striker would have been proud of. Frank Lampard (115) and John Terry (121) are the only outfielders to have played more continental games for the Blues.
Burak fights back
Yilmaz was an unlikely hero in Lille's Ligue 1 title run last season and he did his best to help them pull off another shock against Chelsea. He became the third oldest player to score in the Champions League at 36 years and 244 days old – behind only Ryan Giggs (37 years, 148 days) and Paolo Maldini (36 years, 333 days).
What's next?
Chelsea have an FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough on Saturday, when Lille travel to Nantes in Ligue 1.
AC Milan’s derby defeat ‘not the end of a journey, but a new beginning’
Stefano Pioli is using the pain of derby defeat as fresh inspiration as he attempts to steer AC Milan to success this season.
The Rossoneri were trounced 5-1 by Inter Milan a fortnight ago and then drew 0-0 with Newcastle in their Champions League opener.
They have since beaten Verona and Cagliari to go level on points with Inter at the top of the Serie A table and manager Pioli, who found himself under intense pressure in the wake of a difficult week, is keen to draw a line under the derby day disappointment ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Lazio.
View this post on InstagramHe told a press conference: “We are doing well, we want to find the right continuity to do well in the league and in the Champions League. We need to focus only on tomorrow.“We have always lived with balance between negative and positive moments. The derby was not the end of our journey, but a new beginning to start from.
“Now we are not perfect, we are not flawless, but we can put our best performance on the field tomorrow.”
Pioli will hope to have key players back for the weekend, with goalkeeper Mike Maignan having sat out Wednesday’s 3-1 win at Cagliari through injury, while strikers Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao started on the bench with the former not leaving it.
However, the Milan boss was coy about his team selection when asked about the depth of his squad.
View this post on InstagramPioli said: “I am convinced of the quality of my players, but we have to keep moving forward.
“After the break, a new season started. To stay at the top, we need to be strong in every aspect. Now we only think about tomorrow.”
Lazio will arrive at the San Siro after clinching just their second win of the campaign in midweek, when they beat Torino 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.
Pioli will hope a third successive victory will ease the tide of criticism which has come his way, although he remains philosophical.
He said: “It’s useless to talk about the criticisms. We are Milan, we want to win and be competitive. The club is following a wonderful path, already capable of winning and to put the accounts right. Everyone is working very well.
“We are Milan, the praise and criticism are high. It’s part of our job.”
Anthony Ralston enjoying setting an example at Celtic
Celtic right-back Anthony Ralston will embrace his developing role as one of the more senior members of the squad after signing his latest contract.
Ralston has made five appearances since the return of Brendan Rodgers and the manager quickly showed his faith by handing him a new contract until the summer of 2027 this week.
The academy graduate made his Celtic debut seven years ago under Ronny Deila and was handed further first-team action by Rodgers before truly establishing himself in the early days of Ange Postecoglou’s reign, following loan spells with Dundee United and St Johnstone.
Given the number of players who have arrived at Celtic Park over the last two years, the Scotland international accepts he can now be classed as a senior player.
“Unfortunately, aye…,” he said. “I am only turning 25 in November but for sure I’m not a kid anymore.
“When there’s younger boys coming into the team, it’s trying to help them settle in as much as possible, especially if they are coming from different backgrounds and different countries.
“It’s up to the likes of myself and boys who have been here for a long time or who have come through to help them settle in as best as possible so they can perform at their best.
“It’s a different time now for me after signing the contract. I am going to be here until I am slightly older again so it’s adapting through my career into that experience level where I can help younger boys, because I have been there myself at 18, 19, 20.
“I am lucky, we still have more experienced boys than me, the likes of Cal (McGregor), Joe (Hart), Jamesy (Forrest), who take the lead on that. I still very much look to them as well as trying to help the younger lads.
“But when that point of my career comes – not just yet – I have had great role models to be able to fulfil that when the time comes.”
Rodgers this week stated it was important for Celtic to have players such as Ralston who understand what it means to play for the club as supporters and youth academy graduates.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s cinch Premiership clash at Motherwell, Ralston agreed: “I do feel it’s important. It’s a hard journey to get to this point but I am one of the lucky ones who have been able to break through. There are a lot of kids who don’t.
“I have had great role models like Callum and Jamesy that I have seen do it and it gives everyone that bit of hope.”
Ralston has previously spoken about how the birth of his daughter, Mila, inspired him to make his breakthrough under Postecoglou after he only played once during the 2020-21 season. And his role as a father continues to motivate him.
“The contract is a symbol of the work I am putting in for her and for the rest of my family and friends who have helped me all the way from being a kid to now,” he said.
“She is definitely getting to grips more with what her dad does. She is only three and a half so trying to explain that to her and sometimes she is quite interested, then other times she is not.
“But she will get there and when she is older she will be able to look back at all the memories that I have tried to create for her early in her life and realise how special it was.
“She is my main motivation, she is my responsibility and my career reflects my life as well. It’s just about trying to give her everything and the best life possible.
“She is going to grow up and look back at the success and the things I create. It’s my job to make sure they are as special as possible and I hope I am doing that for her.”
Lisandro Martinez could be out for two months in latest Man Utd injury blow
Lisandro Martinez faces around two months on the sidelines having aggravated a previous foot complaint as Manchester United’s injury-hit start to the season continues.
There have been 16 different United players injured or ill already this season, with seven sidelined for Saturday’s Premier League home clash against Crystal Palace.
United full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Sergio Reguilon are all ruled out, with Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo and Martinez also absent.
The Argentina defender sustained a fractured metatarsal in April’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla, keeping him out for around two months.
Martinez is now understood to be looking at a similar timescale on the sidelines after United announced an issue with the same foot.
“Lisandro Martinez will be out of action for an extended period due to an aggravation of the foot injury he suffered in April,” the club said.
“The Argentinian defender experienced the setback in our Premier League game against Arsenal earlier this month.
“Martinez bravely continued playing for the following two games against Brighton and Bayern Munich.
“But it has now been determined that he needs a period on the sidelines for recovery and rehabilitation. Assessment is ongoing to decide next steps.”Martinez’s absence in a gut punch for a United side that can welcome back Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay after missing Tuesday’s 3-0 Carabao Cup win against Palace through illness.
Ahead of hosting Palace again, manager Erik ten Hag said: “We have seen some players back on Tuesday.
“For tomorrow the players who were out of the squad for Tuesday, Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen, they are back.”
Ten Hag recently admitted he was concerned about the number of injuries United have been picking up at a time when there are ever-increasing demands on elite players.
“We already expanded the squad this season,” he said. “We had a World Cup in the middle of (last) season, so we had a longer season.
“We had to play a longer season as well because of the FA Cup (final) then nations games, so a shorter break.
“Every time the shadow is expanding, and the load on the players is just too much. It’s such a great overload.
“But many colleagues have already pointed to that, and I have pointed to that as well.
“But it kept going, we keep expanding the shadow, but anywhere it will stop and players can’t deal any more with this overload.
“I think this is what you see across many squads in this moment.”
The strain of injuries and illness have been compounded by the absence of Antony and Jadon Sancho.
Antony has not played since the 3-1 loss at Arsenal on September 3, having been given a leave of absence to deal with allegations of abuse against him.
United announced on Friday that the winger will resume training and is available for selection again as he continues to co-operate with police inquiries.
But Antony will not feature against Palace this weekend, nor will Sancho.
Four weeks ago the England international claimed on social media that he had been made a “scapegoat” after Ten Hag said he left him out of the squad for the game at Arsenal because of poor performance in training.
United later announced Sancho was training “away from the first-team group, pending resolution of a squad discipline issue”.
Ten Hag has not backed down and gave short shrift to the latest questions about the banished winger.
“Many of you ask me so often these questions and I have said everything,” he said ahead of the Palace game.
When asked how long this situation with Sancho can continue, Ten Hag said curtly: “What I said – I said everything.”
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