UEFA Champions League: Chelsea Officially Unveiled as World Champions in Home Game Against Lille

• Defending European champions Chelsea enjoyed a sweet homecoming in the first leg of their last 16 UEFA Champions League match against Lille
• The Londoners got to show off the FIFA Club World Cup trophy, which they won after defeating Palmeiras 2-1 the previous weekend in the United Arab Emirates
• In the process, they became the third English club to claim the honour, following the successful exploits of Manchester United in 2009 and Liverpool in 2019

The Blues enjoyed a relatively comfortable win over the Frenchmen, courtesy of goals by German Kai Havertz and American Christian Pulisic. The return leg in Lille will take place on the 16th of March.

Satisfyingly, the team also got to sport the gold-and-white FIFA Champions Badge for the very first time, a privilege afforded only to the reigning world champions of any FIFA event at all official levels.

This privilege is enjoyed until the end of the next tournament, where the defending champions can either extend their stay on their shirts by winning a consecutive title, or the usurpers earn the right to wear it by dethroning the holders on the way to glory.

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Football

Chelsea has other interesting Champions League records. For instance, they are the first team to hold both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League trophies at the same time, achieving the unique feat between May 2012 and May 2013.

The Blues also hold the UEFA Super Cup, which they won after defeating Villareal in Northern Ireland. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with the men from Stamford Bridge emerging victors by winning the penalty shootout 6-5.

Vlahovic scores, Chukwueze shines as Villarreal play 1:1 draw with Juventus in Champions League cracker

Spanish club Villarreal will need to thank Dani Parejo who rescued a point for them in their Champions League Round of 16 first-leg clash against Juventus.

As reported on Sports Brief, the Italian side opened the scoring inside the first minute following a brilliant strike by Dusan Vlahovic.

But Dani Parejo sent the entire Estadio de la Cerámica into the wilds in the 66th when he grabbed one back to ensure they share the spoils as it ended 1-1.