Real Madrid have yet to tremble and tremble to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. Real threw away the buffer of 2 goals from the first leg and was even virtually eliminated for a while. But first Rodrygo forced extra time and then Benzema struck again.
Real Madrid – Chelsea in a nutshell:
- Key moment: With a wonderful goal in the final phase of regular time, Rodrygo drags extensions out of the belt for Real. They are barely busy when Benzema again makes the difference for the Madrid top club. On the advice of his partner in crime Vinicius, he gives Chelsea the death blow with a striking header.
- Man of the match: Maybe they can already give the Golden Ball to Karim Benzema. In the 1/8th finals, he knocked out PSG with a hat-trick in the return leg and also in the quarter-finals against Chelsea, the French top striker was decisive with 4 goals in 2 matches. Benzema has scored in 7 of his last 8 CL matches and has 12 goals at the championship ball this season. Only Lewandowski does better with 13 pieces.
- Remarkable: Carlo Ancelotti is on his third Champions League campaign with Real Madrid and each time has brought the squad to the last four. In 2014 he even guided Real to the final victory, a year later the adventure stopped in the semi-finals. In total, Ancelotti is already for the 8th time in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Only 2 trainers do as well, Guardiola and Mourinho.
Mount sparks hope at Chelsea
Fortunately, away goals no longer count for Chelsea this season, but the assignment remained extremely difficult after the 1-3 defeat at Stamford Bridge. The English top club had to score twice to force at least extensions.
An early goal is welcome and it came for the visitors. Mount was well launched on the fifteenth minute in the box and placed the ball beautifully out of Courtois’ reach. The Real supporters suddenly got clammy hands.
Chelsea took control of the game, but that did not result in much goal danger. Real was also hardly dangerous. Only halfway through the first half, Benzema showed himself for the first time, his deflected shot went just over. Immediately Real’s only real threat in the first half.
Mount gives Chelsea the lead early on:
Beautiful goal prevents elimination for Real
The second half was one to lick your thumbs and fingers. Immediately after the break, Real had completely lost its excellent starting position. Rüdiger got too much space on a corner and headed the ball into goal: 0-2.
Chelsea smelled blood and just past the hour Alonso made it 0-3 against his ex-team. A big feat went through Bernabéu when his goal was disallowed for hands. It went from almost 0-3 immediately afterwards to almost 1-2. Benzema’s header hit the crossbar.
Fifteen minutes before the end, the dime seemed to fall in the direction of Chelsea. Werner took a shot from close range and Courtois was unable to touch the ball enough to prevent the 0-3. A few minutes later, the Red Devil did prevent the 0-4 on a header by Havertz.
A crucial save, because barely five minutes after the 0-3, Real came back into the running with a real beautiful goal. Modric delivered a fabulous assist, outside the foot. Rodrygo finished just as nicely in one time.
So extensions, although Real got away well shortly before the end of the regular. Pulisic had an excellent chance to make the 1-4 on two occasions, but the substitute decided from close range just as many times.
Benzema pulls Real again over the line
Real with their heels over the ditch to extensions, and Benzema once again turned out to be the match winner. Vinicius again provided the perfect pass and the French top striker left Mendy with no chance with a striking header.
Chelsea struggled to recover from that blow. Real only had a hard time at the end of the second extension. Courtois needed a great save on a shot by Ziyech, Havertz headed a huge chance wide and Jorginho’s attempt also went just wide.
Real held their ground and, after a captivating duel, they advanced to the semi-finals. It awaits either a city derby against Atletico or a new duel against an English top club with Manchester City.
