Chelsea advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals after defeating Atletico Madrid 2-0 to complete a 3-0 aggregate win in the last-16 second leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Thomas Tuchel opted to stick with Kai Havertz in the false No 9 position with Timo Werner on the left of a three-pronged attack and Hakim Ziyech preferred on the right side. Marcos Alonso was chosen ahead of Ben Chilwell at left wing back while Reece James got the nod on the opposite flank instead of Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Diego Simeone, meanwhile, selected Renan Lodi started at left back in what looked like a back four, with Jose Gimenez selected alongside Stefan Savić. Elsewhere, Saul Niguez was preferred in midfield ahead of Thomas Lemar, while Marcos Llorente and Yannick Carrasco were picked out wide.
The game got off to a lively start with Atletico producing the first chance at goal in the fourth minute as Lodi fired a shot at goal from just outside the box, but Edouard Mendy did well to gather the ball.
Chelsea had a chance of their own seven minutes later after Wern regained possession to play Alonso through on goal, but the left back fired his effort into the side-netting.
The home side came close to opening the scoring in the 19th minute with James, who sent a low cross into the box which was completely missed by Ziyech, but Werner picked up the scraps to shoot the ball wide.
James then opted for a speculative shot two minutes later but his strike did not have enough power to trouble Jan Oblak.
The Blues’ persistence paid off as they were rewarded with a goal in the 34th minute after Atletico were caught on the counter-attack. Havertz showed good strength and awareness to play Werner down the left to pick out the advancing Hakim Ziyech in the centre, who slid the ball beyond Oblak.
The home side should’ve doubled their lead on the stroke of half time, but Kovacic curled his effort just wide of Oblak’s post after great combination play between James and Kante.
Chelsea held on to their one-goal lead and saw more possession of the ball as the game went into the half-time break.
The Blues began the second half the same way they ended the first with Ziyech releasing Werner through on goal, who fired his effort straight at Oblak from an acute angle to make the save.
Chelsea continued to push for a second goal after 53 minutes, but Ziyech’s shot was blocked by Saul before Rudiger came inside on to his right foot and hammered his long-range shot wide from the rebound.
Oblak was then forced into making a fine save four minutes later when he pushed out Ziyech’s curling effort from just outside the box out for a corner.
Werner nearly made it 2-0 in favour of Chelsea in the 63rd minute after escaping Gimenez, but the attacker could not find the target as he hit the top of the side-netting with his effort from the left.
Atletico had a rare chance at goal in the 76th minute as Felix was fed down the inside right channel by Llorente, but Mendy beat his effort away before Kante mopped up the rebound.
The visitors were then reduced to 10 men in the 81st minute when Savic was shown a straight red card for elbowing Rudiger inside the Chelsea box.
With six minutes left to play, Callum Hudson-Odoi had a great chance to score just moments after coming off the bench but his diagonal effort was guided straight at Oblak.
Chelsea put the game to bed deep into stoppage time when Pulisic fed Emerson through on goal before firing his effort past Oblak with his first touch of the game, as the Blues booked their place in the next round of the competition.
