Mason Mount was once once again Chelsea’s star man as Thomas Tuchel’s side earned a 2-0 absent win against Porto in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
In a match where Porto saw more of the half-chances and almost dangerous moments it was once Mason Mount who given the first half’s moment of enduring class, taking Jorginho’s through ball in his stride and firing low past Agustin Marchesin. The same was once no less true in the second one period as Chelsea soaked up pressure without facing many in point of fact dangerous moments before Ben Chilwell burst through in the 85th minute, rounding the goalkeeper and slotting into an empty net.
Here is how the individual players rated in Seville.
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Porto ratings
Agustin Marchesin — Goalkeeper
Not numerous help from his backline though questionable decision making all through the match and naughty positioning almost led to more goals. Rating: 5
Wilson Manafa — Defender
Strong opening half providing defensive coverage and pickling out passing lanes. Did mannered to combine with Corona and Uribe through the middle before being subbed late as Porto chased a goal. Rating: 6
Chancel Mbemba — Defender
Tasked with more physical play on the backline, mostly a clean game till issued a yellow just past the hour mark. Rating: 5
Pepe — Defender
Heavily involved in connecting with the midfield and on set pieces for the team, his attempt not off course forced a save from Mendy. Rating: 6
Zaidu Sanusi — Defender
Active on the backline for the team, but got out played in the box by Mount on the opening goal for Chelsea. Rating: 5
Jesus Corona — Midfielder
Active on the ball and in dangerous spaces in the ultimate third and tried to attract calls. Had a naughty error on Chelsea’s go-ahead goal. Rating: 5
Marko Grujic — Midfielder
Strong hold up play all through the match but transformed into more of an enforcer role as Chelsea began to set up their attack. Rating: 5.5
Matheus Uribe — Midfielder
Strong in the midfield early in the match. Both facilitated and disrupted play when needed, and attempted to generate attack with attempts of his own. Rating: 6
Otavio — Midfielder
Given the build up and good combination play in the middle with Corona all through the first half but was once subbed out late as Porto chased the match. Rating: 6
Moussa Marega — Forward
Active in attack, going face to face with Azpilicueta, but struggled to connect on goal for the club despite his efforts. Subbed out late for fresh legs. Rating: 6
Luis Diaz — Forward
Good movement off and on the ball all through the first half, involved in the build up on runs up the middle and strong maneuvering against the opposition all through the second one half, but no goals to show. Rating: 6
Toni Martínez — Sub
Subbed on for Silva in the 83rd for Marenga. Rating: N/A
Francisco Conceição — Sub
Was once subbed on for Firmino in the 83rd minute for Manafa. Rating: N/A
Fábio Vieira — Sub
Subbed in the 83rd minute for Otavio. Rating: N/A
Sergio Conceicao – Manager
Team was once strong in formation despite getting out worked early defensively. Starting lineup played mannered together, which is presumably why he failed to make subs until after 80 minutes. Issued a yellow all through the second one half for dissent. Rating: 5
Chelsea ratings
Edouard Mendy — Goalkeeper
A smart save at his close post saved Mendy from embarrassment when it gave the look of Otavio’s corner was once sneaking in and he also did mannered to receive across quickly enough to disclaim Pepe’s header in a challenging first half. Rating: 7
Cesar Azpilicueta — Defender
Typically Azpilicueta looked to be the man in the way of any goal bound shots on a night where he was once forced to do much more defending than many might have expected from him. Rating: 7
Andreas Christensen — Defender
Against what was once a Porto side with quite a few aerial weapons Christensen coped admirably, justifying Tuchel’s decision to select him over Thiago Silva. Rating: 7
Antonio Rudiger — Defender
The Germany international was once very almost punished early in the second one half when he let Marega run in at the back of and he looked the relative weak link in the Chelsea backline as the game wore on. Equally he was once the one prepared to make the assertive plays, stepping forward one minute and clearing in his own box the next. Rating: 7
Reece James — Defender/Midfielder
For a right-back who is steadily viewed as doing his best work in possession James was once impressively diligent without the ball, leading his team in tackles, clearances and ball recoveries at the interval. Rating: 8
Ben Chilwell — Defender/Midfielder (⚽ ’85)
A perfectly solid display from Chilwell, whose key task was once to aid in the suppression of Corona and Zaidu down the Porto correct. He did so fairly impressively despite the fact that he and Werner struggled to strike up an understanding. It was once just reward for his tough running all through the night when he scored Chelsea’s second, an excellent run through the heart of the Porto defense before rounding Marchesin. Rating: 7
Jorginho — Midfielder
The Italian judged his pass to perfection to tee up Mount for the opener, waiting for Porto’s defense to come towards him before slipping the ball through with perfect precision. Rating: 7
Mateo Kovacic — Midfielder
This type of defensive midfield performance you wish to have in the absent leg of a European tie, Kovacic was once solid in possession, covered each yard he could to win the ball back but was once normally some way from the highlight. Rating: 7
Mason Mount — Forward (⚽ 32′)
His first Champions League goal was once a signal of the outstanding steps Mount has taken in his development this year, a brilliant flick with his left heel before driving the ball into just the correct spot. It was once the stand out moment of another superb performance by the youngster, who at just 22 looks the man who Chelsea can at all times rely on in the biggest moments. Rating: 8
Kai Havertz — Forward
He started mannered enough, varying his movement and taking a look to dart in at the back of. But he did not seem to realize if he was once supposed to be dropping back alongside Kovacic and Jorginho or the use of his height to battle the Porto defense. His performance reflected that confusion and he was once fortunate that the moment his pocket was once picked by Pepe for an open goal would have been ruled out for offside. Rating: 4
Timo Werner — Forward
From the outset this at all times gave the look of being a challenging game for Werner against a team that would take a seat deep and deny him the space he craved in at the back of. He did fairly mannered to close off Porto’s passing lanes early on but as an attacking threat he was once non-existent. Rating: 4
Christian Pulisic — Forward (sub, Havertz, 65′)
Chelsea were forced further back all through his 25 minute cameo and despite the fact that he was once steadily showing for the quick pass in at the back of it rarely came his way, his one chance seeing a powerful effort crack back off the bar. Rating: 5
Olivier Giroud — Forward (sub, Werner, 65′)
No less than he proved it was once not only Werner who struggled to receive on the ball early on. Rating: 5
N’Golo Kante — Midfielder (sub, Mount, 80′)
He was once not the defensive-minded substitute he might have seemed, instead pushing high to pressure a tiring Porto side and force the mistakes that won this game for Chelsea. Rating: 6
Thiago Silva — Defender (sub, James, 80′)
The Brazilian veteran was once introduced to add ballast to the defense but was once scarcely needed as Chelsea hit Porto on the counter late on. Rating: 5
Thomas Tuchel — Manager
Tuchel’s approach to his work at Chelsea is hardly all that easy on the eye but it certainly is effective. The Blues appear to be they could grind their way to the ultimate moments of this competition. Rating: 7