Real Madrid secured a decisive 2-0 victory over Chelsea, who were reduced to 10 players, in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday. Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio scored the goals for the Spanish giants.
The defending champions and 14-time record holders put on an outstanding display, leaving Chelsea struggling to keep up. Ben Chilwell’s red card in the second half, given for pulling down Rodrygo Goes as he raced toward the goal, further complicated matters for Frank Lampard’s team.
Benzema scored the opener in the 21st minute, tapping in at close range after Kepa Arrizabalaga deflected Vinicius Junior’s attempt toward him. Although Madrid dominated the match, their second goal didn’t arrive until the 74th minute when Asensio fired a shot from the edge of the box following a short corner routine.
Carlo Ancelotti relied on veteran midfielders Toni Kroos and Luka Modric to control the game, while Lampard brought Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante into the starting lineup despite injury concerns. Kante had excelled against Madrid in the 2021 semi-finals, and he was one of the few bright spots for Lampard in this encounter, setting up Joao Felix for an early chance on goal.
Benzema, who had previously scored a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge and netted the goal that advanced Madrid past Chelsea in the second leg, posed a constant threat. However, Madrid fans expressed their support for Fede Valverde, who reportedly punched Villarreal’s Alex Baena on Saturday, and the midfielder nearly rewarded them with a powerful shot that narrowly missed.
Chelsea struggled to create chances following their initial opportunities and build effective attacks. Modric almost scored early in the second half, but his curling shot landed on the top of the net. Chilwell’s red card put Chelsea on the defensive, and Asensio’s goal made their situation even more challenging.
Madrid had the chance to increase their lead in injury time, but Benzema’s header missed the target. Antonio Rudiger made a crucial block to stop Mason Mount from scoring a consolation goal for Chelsea.
The teams will face each other again next Tuesday, with the victors set to compete against either Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
