A grey game was decided by a sensational goal, a strike very much from the top spoke of Olivier Giroud’s wheelhouse.
The Frenchman scored a spectacular overhead kick for the only goal of the game, in the 68th minute, and although it was initially disallowed for offside VAR showed it came off Mario Hermoso last, and it was added back on.
Atletico will protest that the game took place in Bucharest, Romania, because of coronavirus restrictions, but it doesn’t disguise the fact they were lamentable and did not get a shot on target to worry Chelsea stopper Edouard Mendy.
Thomas Lemar couldn’t reach Luis Suarez’s cross early on and that was as close as Atletico came, with Joao Felix also volleying over.
Thomas Tuchel, in his first European match in charge of the Blues, takes back a slim but impressive lead to Stamford Bridge.
The downside is that Mason Mount and Jorginho will not be able to play, having both picked up bookings here.