CHELSEA have given themselves it all to do in the second leg following their 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Karim Benzema tapped in to give Carlo Ancelotti’s side the lead in the Spanish capital with just 20 minutes on the clock.
Things got worse for Chelsea as Ben Chilwell was dismissed for dragging down Rodrygo who was through on goal.
Marco Asensio came off the bench to give Real Madrid a TWO goal advantage going into the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
- Match Result: Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea
- Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Caravajal, Militao, Alaba, Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos, Modric, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Benzema
- Chelsea XI: Kepa, James, Fofana, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly, Chilwell, Kante, Kovacic, Fernandez, Sterling, Felix
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Good night
Thank you for joining us tonight.
Chelsea are just about clinging on to their place in the Champions League.
But it’s advantage Real Madrid who lead by two going into the return game at Stamford Bridge.
What’s next for Chelsea and Real?
The Blues need to put tonight behind them fast.
That’s because they face a tough test against Brighton this weekend.
Another defeat will only serve to crush morale further.
As for Real, they travel to minnows Cadiz on Saturday for a late 8pm kickoff.
Credit: Getty FT – Milan 1 Napoli 0
The other Champions League game tonight saw Milan draw first blood against Napoli.
Fresh on the back of their 4-0 win over the league leaders, Milan went ahead through Ismael Bennacer.
Napoli also had star midfielder Frank Anguissa sent off.
And Luciano Spalletti will be praying for the return of Victor Osimhen from injury for next week’s clash in Naples.
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Lampard delivers post-match thoughts
“I’m proud of the 10 men. I don’t think they carved us open due to our spirit.
“We had our chances in the game and there were some good things but the result is the reality.
“I said to the players, special things can happen at Stamford Bridge. They’re a very good team but we have to believe.
“There was a lot there for us. It might be a lack of belief, the players need to understand how good they are.
“Next week is going to be a good fight.”
Fernandez pulls strings
A fairly quiet night for Enzo Fernandez.
But his heat map shows he tried dictating the play from several different areas.
Facts not fiction
Here are the match stats for the game.
Chelsea struggled in terms of possession and shots.
And on reflection, maybe 2-0 isn’t the end of the world.
Problems lie up top
Chelsea have now gone four straight games in all competitions without scoring a goal.
That’s their worst drought since December 1993.
And they’ve now lost 16 games this season, having won just 15.
Where does Frank go from here?
Lampard will have some big decisions to make for the second leg.
Firstly, what formation to play after seeing Ben Chilwell sent off.
And secondly, does he go for an all-out attack and try a more pragmatic approach?
Either way, Chelsea will have to produce a miracle to come back in this one.
Bad night for Blues
Not quite what Chelsea fans were hoping for.
Their side on the brink of elimination from the Champions League.
Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio got the goals to give Real a 2-0 advantage ahead of next week’s return leg.
Credit: AP
FT: Real Madrid 2 Chelsea 0
Real Madrid 2 Chelsea 0 – close!
93. This time it’s Chelsea!
They play the ball into the box and Mason Mount pulls the trigger.
But Antonio Rudiger, himself just on as a sub, makes a crucial block! That should be it now.
Real Madrid 2 Chelsea 0 – close!
92. Real really want that third and almost got it after Kepa punched the ball straight to Benzema.
But the Frenchman manages to head it high and wide of the bar!
That all came from a poor pass from Gallagher.
Real Madrid 2 Chelsea 0
90. Five minutes added on here.
It’s been a disappointing night for Chelsea, who started the game so brightly.
Real themselves haven’t been at their marvellous best, but it’s been another professional hit job from the European experts.
Real Madrid 2 Chelsea 0 – yellow card
88. Carvajal now in the book for a foul on Cucurella.
Will they come to regret another needless yellow?
Chelsea must hold firm and keep it at two to stand any chance of making the semis.
Real Madrid 2 Chelsea 0 – yellow card & sub
85. Aurelien Tchouameni is on for Toni Kroos as Eder Militao is booked for a needless foul on Cucurella.
Enzo takes the free-kick but it’s easily headed away by Real.
Bad waste of a huge opportunity.
Real Madrid 2 Chelsea 0 – sub
83. This sums it up. Luka Modric has been taken off for Dani Ceballos.
And Ancelotti is confident it’s job done already tonight.
Chelsea’s subs have made no impact at all, and the evening is turning into a damp squib.
Real Madrid 2 Chelsea 0
80. Final knockings here at the Bernabeu.
Chelsea have been extremely poor this half.
And it will be a wonder if they don’t concede one more before returning to London.
Credit: Getty Real Madrid 2 Chelsea 0
77. Final subs for Chelsea as Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount come on.
Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante have left the field.
This really does feel like make or break for the Blues.
Real Madrid 2 Chelsea 0
74. Asensio has only just come off the bench.
But he has doubled Real’s lead with a clever shot from outside the box.
And it looks like it’s already game over Chelsea here.
Goal – Marco Asensio, Real Madrid
Real Madrid 1 Chelsea 0
69. Just over 20 minutes to go and there is no sign of a Chelsea equaliser on the horizon.
But they have done very well to prevent Real from doubling their lead, with Kepa making another good save.
At this rate, Lampard is sure to take the 1-0 back to the Bridge for next week’s return leg.
Credit: AP
Real Madrid 1 Chelsea 0 – subs
65. Kai Havertz and Trevoh Chalobah are on for Chelsea.
And it’s Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling who are off.
The Blues are back to a five-man defence now, but have just one attacker left on the field.
Real Madrid 1 Chelsea 0
64. Chelsea really looking out of this at the moment.
Real are happy to draw the Blues out before launching quickly up the field.
Camavinga has just gone close with a good effort, and Lampard must make a change to turn the tide.
Real Madrid 1 Chelsea 0 – close!
60. The resulting free-kick is taking by David Alaba.
And it is fired under the wall towards goal.
But Kepa is down again to make a decent stop.
Real Madrid 1 Chelsea 0 – red card!
59. Straight red for Ben Chilwell!
The left-back has smashed into Rodrygo after the Brazilian ran off Cucurella.
What a disaster for Chelsea.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
