Karim Benzema continued his superb goalscoring form as Real Madrid produced one of the most comfortable football scores of the weekend in the Champions League. Karim Benzema’s first-half goal had put Real Madrid in complete control against a hesitant Chelsea team managed by Frank Lampard, and the task was made much more difficult when Chilwell was sent off for cynically tugging Rodrygo back just outside the area when through on goal. The game became a damage limitation exercise for Lampard’s team in order to keep the tie alive for the return leg in London, but Marco Asensio doubled the Champions League champions’ advantage with a low strike that Kepa Arrizabalaga couldn’t stop.
Owner Todd Boehly, who was in Madrid watching the game and confidently projected a 3-0 win for his team when interviewed, would have had a dismal evening. Chelsea, who were denied a late Mason Mount goal by a fantastic stop by former teammate Antonio Rudiger, are still in with a chance for the second leg next Tuesday but will need to score at least twice to keep their season alive – something they have only done four times in their last 22 games. In the last four, the winners will face either Manchester City or Bayern Munich.
Last season, the teams played at the same level of the competition, with Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid prevailing 5-4 on aggregate after a thrilling second leg. This match was never as exciting, with Chelsea plainly lacking confidence in the attacking areas after failing to score in their previous three games. Joao Felix had a chance to reverse the game’s momentum after just two minutes, but he couldn’t beat Thibaut Courtois when he was through on goal. Real soon found their rhythm, with Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior winning skirmishes down the wings.
Vinicius was instrumental in the opening goal, sliding behind Wesley Fofana and challenging Kepa with a low finish. Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech could only parry the chance away from Benzema, who has now scored 13 goals in his previous nine Champions League knockout phase games. That was one of eight shots that were on target. Madrid bombarded Chelsea’s goal in the first 45 minutes, but Lampard’s team did well to stay in the game, with Kepa showing quick reactions to deny Federico Valverde right before the break.
Chilwell was awarded a straight red card in the 59th minute for pulling down Rodrygo with a tug of the Brazilian’s shirt while he was coming down on goal, effectively ending the Londoners’ prospects of getting back into the game. Chelsea played in a low block to keep the score at one, and while Real never threw everything at the Blues, they played with a confidence that a second goal was on the way. After only three minutes on the pitch, Asensio was passed by Vinicius on the edge of the box and blasted in a low effort that went through the legs of Chelsea defender Fofana and beyond Kepa’s dive.
“We’re realistic; we’re down 2-0 to Real Madrid, but that’s over. I’ve been involved in changing games,” Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard said. “We’ve arrived at a point where we want to prove some things wrong, change the tone, and modify the tale. We played with ten men against Real Madrid, and while it was a disappointing night for the players, I witnessed them give it their all. We weren’t favorites yesterday, and we aren’t favorites today, but that will change next week. That’s how football works. If we seize them, the possibilities are ours.”
“Remember that Chelsea has a superb team and players. It’s not finished yet. At Stamford Bridge, we must fight and make sacrifices. This is very normal. It’s the Champions League quarter-finals,” Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “The game has satisfied us. It was a good game, and now we’re looking forward to the next one. When they played with ten men, they used a low block that was difficult to overcome. We expended a lot of energy in the game trying to press high, so we were not in the best shape to try to find solutions. I thought the outcome and performance were both excellent. My guys are aware that there are still 90 minutes to play. It will be challenging, and we must be prepared.”
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