Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea: Ben Chilwell was sent off as the Blues won comfortably in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Chelsea have everything in their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid after losing the first leg 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, but at least they’re not in trouble.
Goals in each half from Karim Benzema and substitute Marco Asensio handed a second defeat to interim Blues boss Frank Lampard’s comeback, which saw Ben Chilwell sent off shortly before the match for a late foul on Rodrigo. game time is Wednesday night.
Another goalless game leaves Chelsea in next Tuesday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge, although Lampard can be pleased his side didn’t completely collapse against the 10-man holders, who finished second best in the competition.
Real are 15 European champions and are seen as strong favorites to progress as they chase sixth place in the last 10 seasons, but may not be overlooked despite a comfortable win that worked despite their dominance at times.
Lampard made three changes in his first game as caretaker, another defeat at Wolves, Thiago Silva was deemed fit to start after six weeks and N’Golo returned alongside Kante Chilwell.
Chelsea switched to a 3-5-2 and had some joy early on the counter-attack as Joao Félix made a low save from Thibaut Courtois and Kante caused Luka Modric real problems in the middle of the park.
Modric was one of several Madrid forwards to return to Carlo Ancelotti’s starting line-up after Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat by Villarreal left them 12 points behind Barcelona in the La Liga title race with just 10 games to play. to go play this term.
Wesley Fofana and Eduardo Kamavinga were both booked early, the former struggling with the pace and guile of Vinicius Jr.
Seeing red: Ben Chilwell sent off for bringing down Rodrigo as Chelsea take 1-0 lead
/ PAMadrid quickly took control and Kepa Arrizabalaga had to work with Benzema, Vinicius and Rodrigo before the Ballon d’Or winner broke the deadlock after 21 minutes.
The Frenchman can produce such incredible performances on the day, but his 90th Champions League goal left him just one behind Robert Lewandowski in third place on the all-time goalscoring list, an easy strike from close range into an empty net after Kepa. saved Vinicius’ effort at the start from Dani Carvajal’s clever cross.
Benzema’s 26th goal of the season in all competitions was his 20th in his last 26 games against English opposition in the Champions League.
Chelsea immediately equalized as Enzo Fernandez’s low ball to Raheem Sterling was carelessly deflected on target by Eder Militao, only for Courtois to make a superb save.
Barring a couple of forwards at the break, Chelsea hung on for the rest of the first half, with Kepa needing to stay sharp with a couple of handy saves.
Super substance: Marco Asensio scored a crucial second goal for Real Madrid from the substitute’s box
/ PADisaster struck for Chelsea – who also lost Kalidou Koulibaly to a suspected back injury – before the hour mark when Chilwell duly received his marching orders from French referee Francois Letexier for taking off Rodrigo as the last man on the edge of the box after the Brazilian. Federico got away too easily from substitute Mark Cucurella to collect a saved pass from Valverde.
Ancelotti sent on Marco Asensio and the super-sub made an impact just three minutes later, curling under the feet of Fofana and the unlucky Kepa after being trapped by a simple pass from Vinicius.
Benzema could have sealed the last-eight game with a header in second-half stoppage time, while Antonio Rudiger made a superb block to deny former Chelsea team-mate Mason Mount a potential last-minute header. .
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