Real Madrid are on the brink of advancing to the Champions League semifinals after Karim Benzema guided Los Blancos to an impressive and deserved 3-1 win over Chelsea in a rainy and windy Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. The French superstar produced two brilliant headers and scored on an Eduoard Mendy mistake, recording back-to-back hat tricks in the UCL. Benzema’s three in the second leg of the round of 16 saw Real bounce PSG from the competition, and he was just as hot in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Wednesday. The 34-year-old veteran now has 37 goals in 36 games for his club this season.
The Blues, winners of this tie in the semifinals last season en route to the title, were thoroughly outplayed on a soaked pitch at Stamford Bridge. Real took the lead 21 minutes in, and it took just 25 minutes for Benzema to score all three, putting his first two away on sensational headers. Here’s the first:
The second came on another header with delicate, top-tier placement, and the third came less than a minute into the second half on a shocking Mendy mistake.
Chelsea had no answer for Vinicius Junior playing on the back shoulder of the defense. When he crashed a shot off of the bar in the opening minutes of the match, it should’ve been a warning sign before he got free to assist Benzema. Part of the reason why he was able to play like that was confidence that Luca Modric would find everyone in attack as the Croatian midfielder had another magnificent day orchestrating play from deep.
Chelsea finished the match with 20 shots, 12 more than Real Madrid, but they have very little to show for it and face a massive uphill climb in the second leg. Former Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois is part of the reason behind that as he made a few impressive saves during the match to ensure that Chelsea couldn’t get much going.
After losing to Brentford 4-1 on the weekend, defense has to be a concern for Thomas Tuchel as his side has now allowed seven goals in their last two matches. The Blues don’t have many options to change things either as with Romelu Lukaku out of form, it’s not like they can pull out a traditional striker and Tuchel seems to feel the same.
When asked if the tie was still alive, Tuchel simply said “no,” adding, “We have to find our level back. I don’t know where it is since the international break, the first half is a repetition of the second half against Brentford.”
With Chelsea only being down two goals and also having big Premier League games on the horizon, hopefully the players take this as a challenge otherwise, things may get ugly.
Here are a few takeaways from the match:
Don’t let the ball get near Karim Benzema, he’ll make you pay
It was a show of ruthless efficiency for Benzema on display at Stamford Bridge. Only taking four shots, Benzema scored from three and you would’ve expected him to score from the fourth but it was a tougher shot than it seemed in real time. With two different but excellent headers, Benzema’s finishing was on display but it’s just as impressive how he gets into position to receive a cross.
Even Benzema’s third, capitalizing on Mendy’s mistake, is a testament to his movement. It was his pressure on the ball that caused the mistake and created the chance for an easy finish. Mendy should’ve done better but one issue playing out of the back is that if it goes wrong, it usually goes wrong in a big way.
Paging someone to step up for Chelsea
Tuchel ball is reliant on a team game. Everyone knows their roles and executes them while also providing cover for teammates in those moments when their passing breaks down. But when the entire team isn’t up for it, someone has to take charge to drive the team to perform better. Mason Mount tried to do that a little bit in the second half but it didn’t feel like anyone was matching his gear. Even with the team bbehind by two goals, they only took nine shots in the second half compared to 11 in the first half despite playing a more attack-minded formation.
Real Madrid did spend the final ten minutes of the match in a shell defending but that’s because Chelsea allowed them to by not being expansive enough in attack. If Timo Werner and Lukaku aren’t able to be those guys, Chelsea’s new ownership’s first job will be moving both on and bringing in a striker that can take over a match. They saw Wednesday what happens when you come up against one of those.
Second leg outlook
Tuchel says that it’s over and I tend to agree with him. As the sayin goes, a two goal lead is the most dangerous in sports but a full Santago Bernabeu Stadium on a Champions League night is as tough of an environment as they come. Real Madrid also have a luxury that Chelsea don’t. They can rest players ahead of the second leg since they’re safe atop La Liga with a 12 point cushion.
See New Posts
Pinned
And that’s it! An excellent 3-1win for Real Madrid!
Chelsea will have all to play for in the away leg.
Pinned
Five minutes of additional time to come.
Chelsea have had their chances but can they get another goal before the match is out?
Pinned
When Gareth Bale is getting ready for Real Madrid, the match is out of sight
Bale has played a total of 270 minutes for Real Madrid this season (three minutes in the Champions League) and he’ll be entering the match soon.
Pinned
Mount almost got free again
Real Madrid are officially protecting their lead but Mason Mount almost wiggled free. Nacho was there as the substitute was able to hold his ground.
Pinned
Oh, Lukaku?!
It was a moment of redemption as Lukaku had a header on a platter and sends it… straight into the ground. It just sums up how Chelsea’s night is going. Mount had another good chance but just barely missed it.
Pinned
A shocking miss by Lukaku
That was the lifeline…a clear header in front of goal…and he cannot believe it. How did that not go on frame?
Pinned
Militao will be withdrawn
Can Chelsea take advantage of Nacho coming on to get goals back? Pulisic’s day is also over with Lukaku replacing him.
Pinned
59′ Militao is receiving treatment
With a possible knee injury and a yellow card, it may make sense for Real Madrid to play it safe and get a replacement on. Romelu Lukaku will be coming on for Chelsa as well.
Pinned
Back to back hat tricks is good right?
Pinned
Azpi with a strike that deserved a goal!
Forcing a fingertip save from Courtois, Azpilicueta was unlucky not to bring Chelsea back within a goal with his shot from outside the box.
Pinned
GOAL REAL! 3-1 just seconds into half time!
A horrible mistake from Mendy sees the ball fall right to Benzema a third of the way up the pitch, and it’s easy in the end, finishing into an open goal.
Pinned
Can that half keep going?
Three exquisite goals from the two sides but Chelsea are behind 2-1 at the half. Thomas Tuchel will need to get some help defending Vini Jr as he had run of the land but it will also require stopping Luka Modric who conducted everything from deep. Real Madrid can’t feel safe but, not a ton to change from their end.
Pinned
Benzema with a shocking miss
OMG. How in the world did he miss that? Villarreal serve Benzema his third goal on a platter seven yards out, and he misses it! A shocking miss.
Pinned
Benzema finally misses
Chelsea will need to do something fast to contain Vini Jr who was in space again. Modric sprung him and his cross found Benzema who just couldn’t finish the chance from a tight angle.
Pinned
Havertz is a brave one
He beat all of Real’s back line while almost getting kicked in the face while going for the header.
Pinned
40′ Goal Chelsea! Havertz!
Blues back in it now as the German heads home on a great ball from Jorginho!
Pinned
Champions League is already Real Madrid’s league and here’s part of the reason why
Pinned
With that shot, Kante may be feeling the frustration
There was no reason for Kante to shoot from outside the box but with Chelsea being behind 2-0 only 35 minutes into the match, the tendency to play hero ball could be coming out for some players.
Pinned
And before you could blink he had a second
Pinned
A look at Benzema’s first goal
Pinned
24′ BENZEMAAAAA 2-0 Real Madrid
This time it’s from Modric and if the ball is within Benzema’s reach, there’s a threat for a goal. Most forwards don’t finish a header from that angle but most forwards also aren’t Benzema. Chelsea are in a hole now! That is 36 goals in 36 games this season and his 10th in the Champions League!
Pinned
21′ GOAL REAL MADRID! Benzema!
1-0 to the visitors! A lovely give-and-go between Vini and Benz ends in a golazo. A great lofted ball to Benzema is headed home with amazing precision. Wow.
Pinned
Almost 20 minutes in it’s pretty open
Yellows on both sides as the tackles are flying in. Real Madrid has had the better of the chances with Vini Jr’s shot clashing off of the bar but there has only been one shot on target between the two sides in the early going. Possession is pretty even as Real Madrid feels comfortable enough to attack Chelsea on the day.
Pinned
Here’s the chance from Vinicius Jr.
Pinned
Yellow for Militao!
The Brazilian centerback is shown a yellow for a challenge on Havertz, and with that he is suspended for the second leg.
Pinned
Off the bar!
Real on the counter, and they get their first big chance 10 minutes in. Valverde with a run towards goal, he finds Vinicius, who makes a move and fires off the crossbar and out! What a chance that was!
Pinned
Good chance for Chelsea!
Kante plays Havertz through with a lovely ball over the top, and the German makes some moves in the box but is defended well by Alaba. Goal kick given, but it should have been a corner with the ball clearly going off Alaba.
Pinned
Hot start from the Blues
Took just 30 seconds in for Reece James to feed Pulisic down the right, with a dangerous ball being put in. Nothing comes of it, but it was an encouraging start.
Pinned
Underway!!!
The match has begun at Stamford Bridge! The pitch is soaked, and let’s see how that impacts play at all.
Pinned
Great insight on Modric
See More
