Real Madrid, the current title holders, earned a 2-0 win against Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals at the Santiago Bernabéu this past Wednesday. With goals coming from Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema, Madrid dominated the encounter, particularly after Chelsea lost a player. This result gives the record 14-time winners a comfortable two-goal cushion as they eye a spot in the semi-finals. The match turned even more in Madrid's favor when Ben Chilwell received a red card in the second half for stopping Rodrygo Goes from a clear run at goal.
Defending Champions Real Madrid defeated Chelsea 2-0 in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio struck for Real Madrid on a night where the reigning champions dominated 10-man Chelsea to open up an aggregate 2-0 lead in their process to reach the semi-finals. The record 14-time winners rallied to a comfortable win against Chelsea, who saw Ben Chilwell being sent off in the second half for bringing down Rodrygo Goes as he ran through on goal.
Under the guidance of Frank Lampard, Chelsea started the match aggressively, creating several early opportunities. Both Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix came close to scoring, but they were thwarted by the brilliance of Thibaut Courtois, facing his old club. However, Real Madrid gradually took charge, dictating the pace with steady possession and clinical passing, which eventually led to the opening goal after 20 minutes.
The first goal arrived when Karim Benzema reacted quickest to a loose ball, tapping it in after Kepa Arrizabalaga deflected a shot from Vinicius Junior. This was a milestone moment for the 35-year-old, marking his 90th goal in the Champions League, with his last 11 goals coming against English opposition. Although Madrid dominated the first half with eight shots on target, they only managed to convert one, heading into the halftime break with a 1-0 advantage.
Madrid's dominance persisted into the second half, and Chelsea's hopes of a comeback suffered a major blow in the 59th minute when Chilwell was sent off with a direct red card. The match served as a clash between the two most recent Champions League winners, with Madrid showcasing their elite quality while Chelsea's performance mirrored the struggles they've been facing in the Premier League.
Despite their total control, it took until the 74th minute for Madrid to double their lead. Shortly after coming on as a substitute for Rodrygo, Marco Asensio fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box to make it 2-0. Madrid comfortably maintained their lead until the final whistle. The night was also a highlight for Vinicius, whose two assists brought his total goal contributions in Europe this season to 11, trailing only Erling Haaland's 12.
Despite the loss, Frank Lampard remains optimistic, suggesting that his squad is capable of a 'special' performance to overcome the two-goal deficit and knock the defending champions out of the tournament.