Keeper failed with dire consequences
Benzema has almost all of Chelsea’s hopes
4/6/2022 10:53 PM
After PSG, Chelsea now also feel the extra degree of Karim Benzema. The French striker brought Real Madrid very close in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. A German player gives the defending champion some hope.
Kai Havertz still offers little hope – in the end, however, Chelsea are on the verge of elimination from the Champions League: the defending champions around coach Thomas Tuchel won the eagerly awaited first leg of the quarter-final against Real Madrid 1:3 (1:2 Lost, next Tuesday in Spain, the Blues now need to win with two goals – just to get into overtime.
The national player prevented Havertz a hopeless attempt with his goal (40). Outstanding Karim Benzema (21/24/46) led Real Madrid to a three-goal win in the London rain, and Toni Kroos’ side now holds all the trump cards. On the other hand, the first defeat for the hosts was in two respects: Tuchel and Chelsea set an impeccable record in the European Cup against Real until Wednesday evening.
Even before the match, the English were by no means comfortable. The much-needed change of ownership has yet to be completed, and the club has been in limbo since sanctions against Roman Abramovich. Last Saturday, the 4-1 defeat to FC Brentford also shocked the environment.
It’s Mendy’s bad pass to Rudiger that makes the decision
Initially Chelsea tried to appear assertive, and Havertz got his first good chance five minutes later from a sharp corner. But on wet ground, the defense around nationalist Antonio Rudiger Real couldn’t control him in the early stages.
First, Vinicius Jr. missed the crossbar (10), and a little later Benzema silenced the fans at Stamford Bridge: the Frenchman used two very demanding headers – and Chelsea clearly struggled to regain their composure in the following minutes. Shortly before the end of the first half, European champion Jorginho brought a cross from half the field to Havertz with his header.
Immediately after the start of the second half, Edward Mendy stole any momentum from the English: a harmless free kick fell into the Chelsea goalkeeper, but he did not bring the ball cleanly to Rudiger. Benzema jumped into the goal and hit the empty goal.
