Benzema obviously, eternal Modric, Thiago at fault … The tops and flops after Real-Chelsea (2-3) in the quarter-final return of the Champions League.
TOPS
Benzema, strong head
Who else ? Author of a hat-trick to eliminate PSG (3-1 victory) and another in the first leg against Chelsea (3-1 victory), Karim Benzema did not have a huge game on Tuesday evening, in the semi-finals return from the Champions League. Less visible, less precise, less well served as his team has long swayed against the Blues’ battering. But it was he who propelled the ball into the back of the net at the start of extra time, a new victorious header synonymous with qualification for Real Madrid (2-3). His 12th goal of the season in C1, the 83rd overall in this competition (4th top scorer in C1). Ruthless, the former Lyonnais scored on his only shot on target of the evening (4 in total), after finding the bar.
Modric changed everything
A jewel, constant efforts, serenity to spare: Luka Modric held his rank throughout the meeting, even when the Madrid boat was pitching hard. His opening with the outside of the foot to serve Rodrygo, author of Madrid’s first goal? A jewel. 89 balls, nearly 90% successful passes, one shot, four tackles… At 36, the Croatian is no longer as regular as before, but he is a giant.
Winning coaching for Ancelotti
Through his tactical changes, his choice of men, his game ideas, Thomas Tuchel raised the bar compared to the first leg (3-1 victory for Real) and taught Carlo Ancelotti a lesson. Chelsea indeed walked on their Spanish hosts for a long time and the Italian technician seemed to be unable to do anything about it. Yes, but the said Ancelotti can be proud of having made winning changes, with Rodrygo scoring and the impact of Frenchman Eduardo Camavinga. Lucas Vazquez also did well and the choice to switch Dani Carvajal paid off. The transalpine sphinx had the last word, even if the German professor had bet on the right ingredients.
Read alsoKarim Benzema sends Madrid to semi-final after crazy game against Chelsea
Rudiger pattern size, but…
Free at the end of the season, the German international defender did not see his rating on the market drop on Tuesday evening … We could mention the other two Chelsea scorers, Mason Mount and Timo Werner, the twirling Reece James on the right , but the best Blues player at the Bernabeu will have been Antonio Rudiger, author of the 2-0 goal with a header but also and above all of a boss game behind, culminating in this incredible comeback ahead of Vinicius Jr in second period. Alas, he slips on Benzema’s goal. Bad luck and it’s expensive.
FLOPS
Feverish Thiago Silva
So often brilliant and serene, the former PSG “Monstro” was overtaken by his old demons on Tuesday. Passive on the goal of his compatriot Rodrygo, Thiago Silva is also involved in that of Benzema, with a hazardous recovery in the feet of Camavinga and a too loose marking on another Brazilian, Vinicius. Obviously, Thiago Silva is not the only one to blame, we could speak of the failures of Kai Havertz – who shone as much by his activity as his clumsiness – and Jorginho in extra time, lots of small errors here and there, the slip by Rudiger… A time of regret for the European champions, who were virtually qualified for five minutes. Real is for eternity. 10th qualification over the last 12 years in C1 semi-finals for the White House.
Vinicius misses (almost) everything
It’s the ghost of Vinicius that we saw at work. The imprecise Vinicius, who thinks too quickly for his feet and who does not bring much in summary. Missed match. Except in the 96th, when he fixed Thiago Silva to serve Benzema, the decisive pass for the decisive goal. If the strength of the greats is to manage to be decisive even on a bad evening, “Vini” is part of this caste.
Little Kante
Brilliant last year during the 2-0 victory against Real, on the return, N’Golo Kanté did not shine as much this Tuesday evening at the Bernabeu. Far from there. Failing to have sunk, the captain of the Blues, replaced at the start of extra time (100th) made unusual mistakes, with loss of ball which could have been expensive. That of the 80th was in fact expensive: it brought Real’s first goal. He got rotten by Antonio Rudiger on one of them, in the second half…
Little Kroos too
Not happy when he was replaced, Toni Kroos did nothing to make Carlo Ancelotti want to leave him on the pitch. The German metronome missed his subject on Tuesday evening, lacking bite in the duels and precision in the transmissions. A nice strike to report, and that’s it.
