Karim Benzema struck but once more in opposition to Chelsea, and Real Madrid is a step nearer to eliminating the English membership for the second straight season within the UEFA Champions League 2023. Vinícius Júnior thrived with two assists and Marco Asensio additionally scored in Madrid’s 2-0 win within the first leg of the quarterfinals on Wednesday within the newest assembly between the final two European champions.
Chelsea performed the ultimate half-hour with 10 males after Ben Chilwell was despatched off for stopping a Madrid breakaway. It was a second consecutive defeat for brand spanking new Chelsea interim supervisor Frank Lampard after he changed Graham Potter amid the group’s disappointing outcomes.
The second leg is subsequent week at Stamford Bridge. AC Milan defeated Napoli 1-0 within the different quarterfinal match on Wednesday. Benzema scored his sixth purpose in 5 matches in opposition to Chelsea by hitting the open web off the rebound of a save by Kepa Arrizabalaga after an try by Vinícius from shut vary within the twenty second minute on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Benzema had scored 4 instances in opposition to Chelsea within the last-eight final season, together with the decisive purpose in additional time within the second leg in Madrid. He had a hat trick within the first leg in London. The French veteran has scored 20 objectives in 27 matches in opposition to English opposition. His final 14 objectives within the competitors have come within the knockout stage.
Asencio netted the second within the 74th after one other help by Vinícius, who saved the Chelsea protection in bother throughout a lot of the match along with his fast runs and nifty dribbles. The 22-year-old Brazilian was named the sport’s most useful participant.
“We played very well. It was one of our best matches of the season,” Vinícius mentioned. “It’s great to win at home like this, but there is still a lot left and we need to win the second game. We will have to come out strong there as well.”
The groups have met within the Champions League for 3 straight years, with Madrid prevailing at this identical stage final season earlier than profitable a record-extending 14th title. Chelsea superior previous the Spanish powerhouse within the semifinals within the earlier 12 months en path to its second Champions League trophy.
“We are satisfied because we managed the game well and earned an advantage ahead of the second leg, which was the objective tonight,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned. “It was a good game and a good result.”
Madrid is trying to make it to the semifinals for the eleventh time in 13 seasons, whereas Chelsea has appeared within the final 4 solely as soon as since 2013-14. Lampard started his new stint with Chelsea with a 1-0 loss at relegation-threatened Wolverhampton within the Premier League over the weekend. The former midfield nice additionally coached the group from 2019-21.
Big sport Benz _#UCL pic.twitter.com/1wAOZTZqqE
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 12, 2023
Chelsea’s winless run prolonged to 5 video games. It has gained solely two of its final 11 matches within the Premier League, the place it sits in eleventh place. “It’s a big challenge, of course,” Lampard mentioned of his group’s probabilities within the second leg. “There is always hope. We have to believe. I need to be the first one to believe that it’s possible.”
The guests had the primary vital likelihood in a breakaway two minutes into the match, with former Atletico Madrid participant João Félix having his shot saved by Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in a one-on-one scenario. The match remained largely even till Madrid broke the impasse with Benzema’s faucet in. Chelsea almost equalized a minute later when Raheem Sterling’s close-range shot was stopped by an excellent reflex save by Courtois by the publish. The shot appeared to deflect off Madrid defender Éder Militão, making Courtois’ save even more durable.
Chelsea’s probabilities had been decreased after Chilwell pulled Rodrygo from behind to cease the Brazilian ahead from getting into the world in a breakaway within the 59th. Chilwell on Tuesday signed a two-year contract extension with Chelsea. Asensio got here off the bench within the 71st and added to Madrid’s lead three minutes later with a low shot from simply exterior the world.
Chelsea struggled to create any hazard close to the tip but it surely almost obtained on the board in stoppage time with a shot by Kai Havertz that was blocked by Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger in entrance of the purpose. Madrid was coming off a 3-2 dwelling to Villarreal that each one however ended the group’s hopes of profitable the Spanish league.
Madrid eradicated Liverpool within the final eight, whereas Chelsea obtained previous Borussia Dortmund.
