Defending European champions, Real Madrid, outclassed their Londoners rivals, Chelsea, at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, beating them 2-0 in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The Blues should feel lucky to have only conceded two goals. Real Madrid were smooth and slick, expressive and confident. Chelsea were difficult to watch.
Chelsea nearly took the lead in the third minute when Madrid lost possession in their own half and the visitors broke at lightning speed.
Kante played the ball through the Madrid defence and Joao Felix was clean through on goal. He did not quite have the pace to stay ahead of Eder Militao, though, and even though he managed to get a shot on target, it was well saved by Thibault Courtois.
The Los Blancos took over possession and twenty minutes into the half, they made it count. Dani Carvajal curled a superb pass to Vinicius Jr, who sprinted on to it and flung his left foot at it, guiding it towards the corner of the goal. Kepa Arrizabalaga got down brilliantly to push it away but it rolled into the path of Benzema, who tapped it in to make it 1-0 for the home side.
England defender Ben Chilwell was given his marching orders after pulling back Brazilian attacker Rodrygo by the arm, forcing him to fall when he was running in on goal.
Marco Assensio extended Madrid’s lead fifteen minutes from time to secure a well-deserved 2-0 win for the Spanish champions.
Chelsea will host Real Madrid in the return leg on Tuesday, April 18 2023.
