The end result was a narrow 1-0 defeat, but it leaves the tie very much still in the balance ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge in three weeks’ time. There is plenty of reason for optimism for those in Blue, too, with Chelsea managing more shots, considerably more of which were on target, as well as more passes and more corners.

• Havertz frustrated by draw with Borussia Dortmund

• Watch the highlights from Signal Iduna Park

• Potter's verdict on a finely balanced Champions League tie

That meant the visiting side edged the expected goals but, despite making some presentable chances, we were unable to find the back of the net at Signal Iduna Park, not least due to the crossbar denying Joao Felix and Kalidou Koulibaly having an effort cleared off the line.

We more than played our part in a riveting Champions League match, though, with some promising signs that partnerships are starting to form all over the pitch as Graham Potter attempts to gel his new-look squad together, especially during the second half as we penned Borussia Dortmund back towards their own goal.

Ziyech and James show class on the right

Although it is the new partnerships forming which will generate the most excitement, it was one between two players who already know each other well which was arguably the most effective on the pitch in Germany.

However, due to injuries keeping both players out for spells, this was actually only the second time this season Hakim Ziyech and Reece James have started a match together, but they combined well throughout against Borussia Dortmund.

With both being excellent crossers of the ball, Dortmund’s defenders were stuck between pressing wide and covering the gaps in the channels, which James in particular looked to capitalise on by alternating between the overlap around the outside of Ziyech, or cutting straight towards the box on the underlap.

The duo contributed six shots between them, with nobody on the pitch managing more than Ziyech’s four in total or James’ two on target, showing the threat they carried, while only Enzo Fernandez (91) had more touches on the ball than James’ 79.

Unsurprisingly both were also high on the list of most frequent crossers of the ball into the box, with Ziyech second on six and James not far behind with four.

Key creators Joao Felix and Havertz

After Joao Felix scored his first Chelsea goal against West Ham United at the weekend, he looked lively again in Germany, even if he couldn’t quite find the back of the net this time. His partnership in attack with Kai Havertz is continuing to grow, though, with the duo starting to find their creative groove.

Their interchanges, especially on the counter-attack, are really finding a rhythm, with Havertz, the more central of the two, providing four key passes at Signal Iduna Park, the games’ joint highest along with Dortmund’s Julian Brandt, an old friend of Kai’s from their time together at Bayer Leverkusen.

Meanwhile, Joao Felix was drifting into space across the width of the pitch, supporting those on both wings to outnumber our opponents, as shown by the Portuguese forward comfortably supplying more crosses than any other player on the pitch, with nine, while his five successful dribbles was also more than anyone else at Signal Iduna Park.

Havertz and Joao Felix also managed four shots apiece, the joint highest in the game, along with Ziyech, Fernandez and Dortmund’s scorer Karim Adeyemi.

Chilwell finding his stride

We have already spoken about the contribution of James and Ziyech on Chelsea’s right wing, but the impact of Ben Chilwell’s return from injury on the opposite flank shouldn’t be forgotten either.

The England international continued his recovery from injury by making his first start since our last match of the Champions League group stage, back at the beginning of November, and demonstrated that he is well on his way back to his best.

Often being the player to hug the touchline and provide us with width, advancing high up the pitch even as part of a back four in Germany, to make his presence felt in the final third, with only Havertz making more than his three key passes for Chelsea.

Similarly, only two players provided more than his five crosses (Ziyech and Joao Felix), but his two to find a team-mate was the best on the pitch.