Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell’s first Champions League goals saw Chelsea beat Porto 2-0 to seize control of their quarter-final first leg in Seville.
Having conceded five goals against West Brom, Chelsea produced a dogged defensive performance to earn a seventh clean sheet in nine European games this season.
Skipper Cesar Azpilicueta’s vital block denied Corona before Edouard Mendy kept out Pepe’s header.
Chelsea travelled to Spain in desperate need of a response to Saturday’s drubbing at the hands of West Brom, and Thomas Tuchel’s side delivered.
Mount opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark, exquisitely controlling Jorginho’s pass before finishing into the far corner to open his account in Europe’s elite-club competition at the 15th attempt.
On a night of firsts, Chilwell followed in Mount’s footsteps with a stunning first Champions League goal as he intercepted a stray pass, drove into the area, and rounded the Porto goalkeeper five minutes from time.
This was the perfect response by Chelsea after last weekend’s embarrassment – a resilient, determined and professional performance against a team that had eliminated Juventus in the previous round.
Tuchel reacted to the West Brom shambles by making five changes, with Rudiger among those recalled despite his ‘heated’ row with Arrizabalaga.
Rudiger played his part in an impressive Chelsea rearguard display, Porto carving out several chances without managing to find a way through.
The victory and two away goals leave Chelsea in complete control of the tie ahead of next week’s return leg at the same venue, where they aim to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2014.
