TOPS/FLOPS – Adeyemi’s brilliant goal, Brandt’s technique, but also Mudryk’s difficulties: find out what caught the editorial staff’s attention after BVB’s victory against the Blues (1-0).
TOPS
The feat of Karim Adeyemi
Borussia Dortmund have a knack for blasting very talented young players. In the line of Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho and other Mario Gotze, Karim Adeyemi is one of them. This young winger (21 years old) born in Germany, of Nigerian and Romanian origin, delivered his team this Wednesday during the round of 16 first leg against Chelsea. Leaving in a solitary raid from his own half of the field, he made his speed and technique speak to deposit Enzo Fernandez at the entrance to the surface before eliminating Kepa and concluding from the left (67e). A goal he won’t soon forget.
The elegance of Julian Brandt
The German international (26 years old, 39 caps) is not the most decisive player in terms of statistics. But it can turn out to be very valuable when it’s on a good day. With his technique above average, his vision of the game and his hybrid positioning, he hurt the Londoners very badly on Wednesday. Style, elegance and creativity as we rarely see.
Marius Wolf’s Activity
Passed N.1 in the hierarchy of the right sides of Borussia Dortmund since the injury of Thomas Meunier before the World Cup, Marius Wolf does not deserve. Against Chelsea, he produced a very successful performance, perfectly muzzling Mykhailo Mudryk in defense and showing incessant activity offensively. With a little more lucidity, he could even have worried Kepa in two or three situations.
FLOPS
The breakdown of the Blues in front
Chelsea are the third worst attack in Europe in 2023 with just four small goals. An offensive inefficiency which cost dearly this Wednesday in Germany. The good content in the game and the tactical discipline of Graham Potter’s team deserved to be rewarded with a goal. But the bar, Kobel then Can on his line frustrated the Blues attackers in turn.
The Nervousness of Jude Bellingham
19 years old and already captain of a big European club. The suit is not too big as the young man’s performances are convincing with Dortmund and the England team. But against Chelsea, the player trained in Birmingham had much more waste than usual and did not have the impact that we know him. He even narrowly escaped the red card on the hour mark, after a first yellow taken at 49e for a nasty foul on Ben Chilwell.
Mudryk’s difficult adaptation
There are many qualities fermenting in Mikhaïlo Mudryk, one of Chelsea’s many winter recruits. But the Ukrainian is currently struggling to meet expectations. He tends to complicate his life in the use of the ball, and seems physically still unsuited to the demands of these high intensity matches. Replaced at the 70e by Mason Mount who didn’t have much to eat.
