Chelsea secured a narrow victory over Pafos on Wednesday, November 21, with a scoreline of 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. This match was part of the seventh round of the group stage in the UEFA Champions League. Moisés Caicedo scored the decisive goal that propelled the Blues up five positions in the standings.
Chelsea’s Climb in the Champions League Standings
After the latest results, Chelsea now occupies the 8th position with 13 points. They are currently tied on points with several other teams, including:
- PSG (6th place)
- Newcastle (7th place)
- Barcelona (9th place)
- Sporting (10th place)
- Manchester City (11th place)
- Atlético de Madrid (12th place)
- Atalanta (13th place)
The top eight teams qualify directly for the knockout stage, while those ranked 9th to 24th will enter playoffs for an additional eight spots.
Pafos’ Current Standing
Pafos, which is in the Cypriot league, currently stands in 30th place in the Champions League with only 6 points. Although they are outside the playoff zone, they still have a chance to contend for qualification in the final round of matches.
Match Highlights
The game was lively, with the first chance coming from Chelsea’s Reece James early on. Enzo Fernández thought he had opened the scoring but saw his goal disallowed due to an attacking foul. Pafos also threatened, particularly with a shot from Brazilian Jajá that narrowly missed Jorgensen’s post.
In the first half, Chelsea attempted numerous shots but could not convert any into goals. Estêvão came off the bench at halftime, injecting energy into the team. He nearly scored shortly after his introduction with a powerful shot.
Despite Pafos’ resilient defense, the Blues continued to press forward. The breakthrough arrived in the 32nd minute when Caicedo found space to head in a corner kick, sealing the victory for the home team.
Match Statistics
| Team | Shots | Shots on Goal | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 21 | 7 | 71% |
| Pafos | 4 | 2 | N/A |
Looking Ahead
Chelsea’s next matches will be crucial as they aim to secure a spot in the next stage of the Champions League. With Caicedo’s performance being a highlight, the team will look to build on this momentum.
