Chelsea stand out despite furious chase against Real Madrid
Real celebrates, Chelsea mourns – Madrid is in the semi-finals of the Champions League after a sensational quarter-final
What: REUTERS
What a sensational football game in Madrid. Chelsea equalized the 3-1 draw against Real Madrid from the first leg and looked like the winner just before the end. But Real saved themselves in extra time. There Karim Benzema strikes again.
Tel-defender Chelsea were eliminated despite an energy performance in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The team of German coach Thomas Tuchel won the second leg at Real Madrid 3:2 (1:0) after extra time, but lost the first leg 1:3. Mason Mount (15th minute) and the German internationals Antonio Rüdiger (51st) and Timo Werner (75th) had already put the third-placed Premier League team 3-0 ahead. Substitute Rodrygo (80th) saved Real in extra time, in which Karim Benzema (96th) marked the decisive goal.
Chelsea appeared motivated and offensively oriented at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. From the start, the defending champions put the hosts under pressure with the three German internationals Rüdiger, Kai Havertz and Werner in the starting XI. The London defense had both the lively Vinicius Junior and the three-goal scorer from the first leg, Benzema, well under control.
Benzema scores four of Real’s five goals in the quarterfinals
Real reacted to Chelsea’s offensive urge with a tightly staggered defense. But the guest found a gap in the 15th minute. Mount made it 1-0 with a well-placed shot on Werner’s assist. The game-determining Londoners also started the second half with commitment and were rewarded with the 2-0 through Rüdiger, who headed the ball powerfully into the goal after a corner.
Timo Werner’s goal to make it 3-0 is not enough for Chelsea to progress
Quelle: Action Images via Reuters
The video referee conceded the third goal for Chelsea by Marcos Alonso in the 63rd minute because the ball jumped into the hand of the Spaniard before the shot on goal. Almost in return, Real striker Benzema headed the crossbar of the London goal. With a fine individual performance, it was Werner who made it 3-0. Rodrygo (80th) shot the hosts into overtime. Benzema then headed Real into the semifinals. The Frenchman had already scored a hat-trick in the first leg and almost single-handedly shot Real into the semi-finals. There, the royals meet either from Atletico Madrid or Manchester City.
