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 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 he 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.
Lille got a penalty Jorginho was adjudged 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 the Lead when Pulisic guided Jorginho’s excellent through ball 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 win the 71st minute.
What does it mean? History for Tuchel.
Thomas Tuchel took charge of his 50th Champions League game, and he made history by beating Lille.
His 32nd victory in the competition was the most by a manager upon reaching a half-century of games.
He surpassed the mark set by Zidane, who won 31 of his first 50 matches in the Champions League.
Cesar’s a lad you can count on.
Azpilicueta marked a moving level with Didier Drogba on 74 major European appearances for Chelsea.
Lampard (115) and 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.
What’s next?
Chelsea has an FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough on Saturday, when Lille travel to Nantes in Ligue 1.
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