UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final, First Leg – 8 April 2053
Venue: Drogba Arena
Chelsea 0–0 Hertha Berlin
Chelsea’s Champions League campaign hit a moment of frustration as they were held to a 0–0 draw by Hertha Berlin at the Drogba Arena. Despite dominating the majority of the contest, the Blues were unable to find a breakthrough in this cagey first-leg affair.
Dominant but Wasteful
Calin Dimario’s side produced 16 shots to Hertha’s 3, with an xG of 2.25 compared to the visitors’ 0.26. They carved out half-chances and occupied Hertha’s final third with intent but lacked the final touch. Of their five efforts on target, none truly tested goalkeeper Jesper Holm, who finished the match with a clean sheet and a 7.3 rating.
Hertha Berlin sat deep, absorbing pressure and slowing the tempo whenever possible. Their defensive organisation—marshalled by Man of the Match Mathias Grandjean (7.3)—proved a stubborn wall Chelsea couldn’t breach. Despite having only 43% possession, Chelsea were the more proactive side throughout.
Midfield Engine Misfiring
While Jairzinho (7.5) showed flashes of brilliance down the flank and completed 66% of his passes, midfield creativity was lacking. Pele and Landeira had tidy spells in possession but couldn’t generate the killer pass. The tempo frequently stalled in the final third as Hertha clogged the central channels.
Frustrations Boil Over
The match saw a flurry of yellow cards, with Jairzinho, Netanel Sahar, and Nabil Lahyane booked for Chelsea. Tensions ran high as the home side pushed for a late winner but couldn’t find a way through Hertha’s disciplined block.
It’s All to Play For
While Chelsea will feel disappointed not to have capitalised on home advantage, the tie remains delicately poised. They head to Berlin knowing a win of any kind in the second leg will see them through to the semi-finals. Hertha, meanwhile, will believe they’ve done the hard part by keeping the reigning champions quiet in London. But whether they can offer more going forward in the return fixture remains to be seen.
Attendance: 82,381
Player of the Match: Mathias Grandjean (Hertha Berlin)