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    Carlo Ancelotti told Karim Benzema he would NOT play against Chelsea just moments before Real Madrid clash

    CARLO ANCELOTTI has revealed he told Karim Benzema he would NOT play just moments before his incredible hat-trick at Chelsea.The French striker, 34, was too hot to handle for the Blues as his treble secured Los Blancos a 3-1 win in the Champions League quarter final first leg.
    Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he told Karim Benzema he might not be able to play at ChelseaCredit: Rex
    The French striker went on the score a sensational hat-trickCredit: Getty
    His manager, former Chelsea boss Ancelotti, was full of praise for the veteran “fine wine” frontman afterwards.
    But he revealed that the Madrid superstar was jokingly told he could not enter Stamford Bridge due to a security issue.
    Ancelotti told Amazon Prime: “Before the game, Benzema was not able to find his pass to enter into the stadium.
    “I told him: ‘Be fast or you can’t play!’. Then luckily Karim found the pass.”
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    Last night’s heroics took Benzema’s tally to 37 for the season.
    The Madrid captain, who had fasted all day beforehand due to Ramadan, also boasts successive Champions League hat-tricks and has 13 goals in his last seven appearances.
    Ancelotti added: “Karim Benzema is getting better every day; just like a fine wine.
    “He’s more of a leader every day, he feels more and more important in this team and this squad. And I think that’s what makes the difference.
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    “He has so much more personality, he knows he’s a very important player for us and he’s an example for everyone.
    “I think the most important thing was the bravery that the players showed. The key was that we brought the ball out from the back very well.
    “We were able to get between the lines and Vinicius and Karim Benzema were very dangerous. Both of them linked up very well.” More

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    ‘It’s not the manager… it’s down to Lukaku’ – Carragher slams Chelsea striker after missing sitter in Real Madrid loss

    JAMIE CARRAGHER slammed Romelu Lukaku after the Chelsea star missed a big chance against Real Madrid.Lukaku, 28, came on as a second-half substitute but spurned a big chance to get his side back into the match with the Blues already trailing 3-1.
    Romelu Lukaku missed a sitter against Real Madrid with Chelsea 3-1 downCredit: Getty

    Cesar Azpilicueta’s deflected cross fell perfectly for Lukaku to head in but the striker failed to find the target.
    He has struggled for form and goals this season and Carragher was critical of both the miss and how Lukaku has played since his big summer move.
    Carragher told CBS Sports: “It’s not down to the manager, it’s down to Lukaku. It’s not about the love from a manager. You spend £100million on a player to make a difference in these games, and he can’t even get in the team.
    “He’s got to do a lot more.
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    “I think he’s just below the elite. His goal record is fantastic, if you look at his numbers
    “But I always feel whenever we’ve spoken about Lukaku, he gets a lot of goals but there’s always been a ‘but’.
    “Even his record in the Premier League, if you look at the teams, it was never against the biggest teams.
    “He’s a very good player, but when you’re talking about [Karim] Benzema, when you’re talking about Harry Kane, when you’re talking about [Robert] Lewandowski, for me he’s just always been a bit below that.
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    “I don’t question the manager at all in that situation. This thing about needing love… just go and play well.”
    Lukaku has scored just five Premier League goals since his £100million move and only two in the Champions League.
    Worse still, Tuchel has dropped him in recent weeks with Kai Havertz, who scored against Real, operating as a false nine instead.
    Micah Richards defended Lukaku by suggesting he has hit a rough patch because he “does not feel loved” at Chelsea, which prompted Carragher’s outburst. More

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    Frosty Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel admits Real Madrid tie is over and slams ‘one of the worst first halves I’ve seen’

    THOMAS TUCHEL declared Chelsea’s quarter-final tie with Real Madrid to be over at the halfway point after being hit by a Karim Benzema hat-trick.The Blues’ boss fumed at his side’s limp display which followed Saturday’s 4-1 home humiliation against Brentford.
    Thomas Tuchel slammed his Chelsea team’s performance against Real MadridCredit: Rex
    The Chelsea boss admitted the Champions League tie was over after one legCredit: Rex
    Tuchel warned his flops that if they keep this up, they will lose at Southampton this weekend and be battered in the second leg in the Bernabeu.
    But he refused to use the off-the-field uncertainty surrounding Chelsea’s ownership as an excuse for the horror show.
    Asked if the tie was still alive at 3-1, the German replied: “No. Not at the moment, no, because we have to find our level again. 
    “It is a heavy loss, and it was one of the worst first halves that I saw from us here at Stamford Bridge.
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    “I don’t know where it is, since the international break.
    “The first half was a repetition against Brentford in a quarter-final of the Champions League against Real Madrid. You cannot expect a result from this kind of performance.
    “We can hurt Madrid more but we were far from our level. It is very disappointing. 
    “If you have this goal (scored by Havertz) you have the energy back and we had in the second half I think 16 shots. You can always come back, you can equalise, you can win.
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    “But if you kill the game yourself after 48 minutes, it is harder and harder of course. Still we had chances to make it 3-2, which could be crucial, but not today
    “When you ask about the circumstances of the ownership, I still see no differences to the last weeks, so I won’t accept it as an excuse. 
    “I am more worried about Southampton than about Real Madrid. That is my focus. 
    “If we don’t get our heads and legs straight and get our mentality right, then we won’t beat Southampton and this tie is not alive.
    “If we keep on playing like this, we will lose in Southampton and then we don’t need to think about the Bernabeu – we will get hammered in the Bernabeu.”
    Benzema followed up his hat-trick in the last round against Tuchel’s old side Paris Saint-Germain with a treble here,
    The 34-year-old headed home two sublime first-half headers, before Kai Havertz nodded one back for the hosts.
    Benzema then capitalised on a horror gaffe from Blues keeper Edouard Mendy to make it 3-1 45 seconds into the second half.
    Karim Benzema put Chelsea to the sword with a hat-trick in the first legCredit: Getty
    The Real hero, dubbed “the best No9 in the world” by pundit Rio Ferdinand, said: “They’re magic nights, like the other day at the Bernabeu against Paris.
    “Today we came out to win, to show we’re Real Madrid. They’re very important goals. 
    “I’m happiest to have scored the third as I missed one in the first half and I was thinking about the chance because it’s very important to score goals.”
    Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise for his star striker.
    The Italian said: “Karim Benzema is getting better every day, just like wine.
    “He is more of a leader every day. He feels more and more important in this squad. I think that’s what makes the difference. He knows he’s a very important player for us. He’s an example for everyone.
    “Of course we have a lead but the tie is still open. We no longer have the away goals rule which is an advantage for Chelsea now. We respect Chelsea because they are a good team.
    “I think Real Madrid played better but there is another game to go and anything can happen.”
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    Ancelotti, who won the double with Chelsea in 2010, was asked about the ownership situation at the Blues.
    He replied: “I think that Chelsea will be forever in my heart, first, and I hope that they will remain one of the best teams in Europe as they did in the past years.” More

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    Brilliant Karim Benzema scores Champions League hat-trick against Chelsea despite fasting all day for Ramadan

    KARIM BENZEMA scored a sensational hat-trick against Chelsea despite fasting for Ramadan.The Real Madrid striker is currently observing Ramadan as part of his Muslim faith.
    Karim Benzema was in red-hot form for Real MadridCredit: Getty
    Fasting hasn’t hindered his performance, however.
    In fact, he reckons it may even make him stronger.
    Recently quizzed by Esquire about Ramadan’s impact on his routine, schedule and training regime, Benzema revealed that there isn’t any.
    He said: “No impact, Ramadan is part of my life and my religion makes Ramadan an obligation.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}CHELSEA 1 R MADRID 3 .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Benzema hat-trick leaves Blues’ Champions League defence in tatters
    “For me, it’s very important and I feel good when I’m fasting.”
    Asked what he’s grateful for, he replied: “I am grateful for being in good health.”
    Benzema, 34, was in red-hot form as Madrid blitzed past Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
    The Frenchman converted a sensational header in the 21st minute, before beating Edouard Mendy with another just moments later.
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    Kai Havertz brought the Blues back into the contest on the stroke of half-time, but a Mendy gaffe gifted Benzema his hat-trick just 46 seconds after the restart.
    Pundit Micah Richards was mocked by Rio Ferdinand after his recent comments that Benzema had only just reached Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane’s level in his estimations.
    Ferdinand, 43, tweeted “Benzemaaaaaaa” before tagging Richards and leaving a slew of laughing-face emojis. More

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    Rio Ferdinand pokes fun at Micah Richards after pundit’s comments about Real Madrid goal-machine Karim Benzema

    MICAH RICHARDS has been trolled by Rio Ferdinand over his past comments about Karim Benzema following the striker’s hat-trick against Chelsea.The Real Madrid hitman ran riot in the first leg of the Spaniards’ Champions League quarter-final tie with the west Londoners on Wednesday night, scoring two stupendous first-half headers before bagging a third shortly after half time.
    Karim Benzema ran riot against Chelsea – scoring a hat-trick at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
    Benzema’s hat-trick prompted footy fans to troll Micah Richards over his recent comments about the FrenchmanCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
    Rio Ferdinand also got in on the act via TwitterCredit: TWITTER
    Richards caused a stir last month when he said he questioned whether Benzema was as good as Harry Kane.
    And ex-Manchester United defender Ferdinand was quick to remind his former England team-mate about those comments after the Frenchman’s Stamford Bridge heroics.
    Ferdinand tweeted “Benzemaaaaaaa” before tagging Richards and leaving a slew of laughing-face emojis.
    Footy fans were quick to pile on the former Manchester City defender turned pundit, with one saying: “If Karim Benzema continues at this rate he might even catch Paul Dickov in Micah Richards’ estimation.”
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    Another said: “Micah Richards must feel like a right pillock after his recent comments about Benzema.”
    And another said: “Someone check on Micah Richards please.”
    One remarked: “Micah Richards, never disrespect my man like that.”
    Ferdinand’s tweet was in reference to Richard’s recent claim that Benzema has only just proven he’s on par with Spurs hitman Harry Kane.
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    When giving his thoughts on Benzema’s hat-trick against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 last month, Richards said: “But now, he’s convinced me.”
    A shocked Thierry Henry replied by asking: “Just now?”
    Richards doubled down on his stance by saying: “Of late, in the last six months.
    “He’s convinced that he’s up there with Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski.”
    A flabbergasted Henry added: “Wow. Just tonight?!” To which Richards replied: “Last six months.”
    Richards quickly defended himself from Ferdinand’s criticism by trying to bring up his former international team-mate’s praise of fired Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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a:not(.nk-card-link){z-index:2;position:relative;}.css-1uyse24{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border:none;}.css-1uyse24 .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(0,114,238,1);}.css-1uyse24:hover:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(0,86,180,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:active:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(0,62,129,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:visited:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24 .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(34,37,38,1);}.css-1uyse24:hover:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(0,86,180,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:active:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(0,62,129,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:visited:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}TEACHER’S SHAME .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Teacher, 21, who had sex with boy, 15, now ‘bitterly regrets’ seducing him
    The 33-year-old tweeted: Nearly as bad as your Ole at the wheel shout!
    “Don’t forget to tweet @GaryLineker who also never rated him.”
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    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern Munich LIVE RESULT: Danjuma goal the difference as Spaniards stun dismal Bayern

    BAYERN MUNICH have work to do in the second leg if they are to avoid the same fate as Juventus against Villarreal.Just minutes into the game, Arnaut Danjuma latched onto a brilliant cross from Giovani Lo Celso to give the Spaniards the victory.
    In the last 16, Villarreal pulled off the shock of the round when they thrashed Juventus 4-1 over the two legs.
    The defining moment
    Look away, Villarreal fans…
    .Credit: Reuters
    Pedrazza, with the whole goal to aim at…
    .Credit: AP
    Never mind.
    Villarreal may rue their missed chances in front of goal.
    Bayern only need to score one to level… in Munich.
    See you then!
    Villarreal victorious
    Wow, take a breather. That was an electric second half. Chances, missed chances, and more missed chances…
    The Spanish side are thoroughly deserving of their win this evening. They will only be disappointed they didn’t score more after creating a multitude of opportunities, only one of which they could convert.
    Bayern were poor for long periods of the game. Their key men struggled to combine to create chances in the final third, and they left themselves open at the back. 36-year-old Albiol rolled back the years against Lewandowski, as his side were able to keep out the German champions all night long. They are lucky to only be one behind in the tie.
    Advantage Emery.
    .Credit: Getty
    .Credit: Reuters
    Full-time – Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    It’s all over! Villarreal have beaten Bayern fair and square.
    Hats off if you predicted that one.
    A huge win for Emery’s men.
    .Credit: Getty
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern – Bayern change
    90, The inured Goretzka is off for Roca
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    90, A sizeable break for Goretzka’s injury may lead to some extra added time here.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    90, Hernandez parades down the left before picking out Coman at the back post. The winger takes it first time, but it’s straight at Rulli. A late goal now would be heartbreaking for Villarreal.
    We have four added minutes here.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    88, Moreno brings the ball down with a phenomenal touch. Davies gets in the way before kindly passing the ball out of play for Villarreal. That will be on the highlight reel. What a touch.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    86, Villarreal with the chance of the match!
    Capoue does brilliantly to win the ball back in his own half, before driving forward and playing in Lo Celso. Pedrazza makes the overlapping run, and Lo Celso finds him. The substitute has the entire goal to aim at but slices it high and wide. Another Villarreal chance goes begging.
    .Credit: AP
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    85, Naglesmann retreats to his seat muttering under his breath. The system hasn’t worked this evening.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern – Bayern change
    83, In the midst of the action I have forgotten to tell you that Sule is on for Pavard. My bad, he’s not hard to miss.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    81, Sane opens up his body and strikes a dipping effort on goal. But its right down the throat of the keeper who can hold on to it.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern – Villarreal double change
    80, Goalscorer, Danjuma is off, along with Foyth, who is limping off after a great performance. Chukwueze and Aurier are on.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    78, Goretzka is surrounded in the box and falls to the floor. Lots of penalty appeals from players in red, but he looks to fall into Albiol. It’s desperate from Bayern, in truth.
    Coman then rifles a ball across the box, but Foyth gets in the way.
    .Credit: AFP
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    75, Moreno jumps up above Hernandez to win the header, but falls hard to the floor. It looked like a nasty fall, but he’s run it off.
    Bayern get up the other end, but Estupinan does enough to shepherd the ball out of play.
    .Credit: Getty
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern – Yellow card
    Estupinan is booked for taking too long.
    The way they are playing, there really is no need for time wasting.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    71, Foyth holds up Sane and Lo Celso drives up the other end. It’s 3 on 2 for a moment, but the Argentinian can’t get his pass away.
    Estupinan then curls a ball in but it’s a couple of inchess above the jumping Danjuma who was completely unmarked.
    So many chances.. So many missed! incredibly, Villarreal will be disappointed.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    68, This is turning into a delightful watch.
    Bayern get the ball straight up the other end. Coman, this time from the left, chinks inside and curls one just over the bar.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    66, Danjuma with the chance to seal it!
    Moreno slides the ball into the Dutchman with the whole goal to aim up. He takes a touch before missing the ball entirely.
    He would have seen bis name up in lights as he looked certain to score. What an opportunity.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    65, Bayern knocking on the door now.
    Rulli punches away the corner. But it’s straight into the path of Davies who strikes on goal, but Rulli can hold on to it.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    63, Coman checks inside and strikes one on his left, but it’s wide.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    62, Oooo what a chance!
    Neuer with an absolute howler. The German comes out of his goal and plays the ball right into Moreno. The Spaniard goes for the spectacular curling chip from the edge of the centre circle. but his effort bounces agonisingly wide of the post.
    Villarreal could have put this to bed!
    .Credit: Getty
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern – Bayern double change
    61, Muller and Gnabry are off for Sane and Goretzka
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    59, It’s end to end!
    Gnabry is slipped through, but Rulli is out quicly to claim it.
    Lovely, intricate football by the visitors, but no reward.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern – Villarreal substitution
    58, Coquelin is off, Pedraza is on.
    Villarreal 1-0 Bayern
    57, What an opportunity for Moreno!
    Danjuma gets in behind and slides a ball across to Moreno with the outside of his boot. But a sliding Davies does enough to stop an otherwise certain goal. Great effort from the full back.
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    Watch Real Madrid star Federico Valverde INJURE his own manager Carlo Ancelotti in flying touchline collision vs Chelsea

    FEDERICO VALVERDE appeared to accidentally injure boss Carlo Ancelotti during Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Chelsea tonight.The Italian will have been delighted with the victory he masterminded – but did endure a moment of pain during the game.

    Federico Valverde inadvertently barrelled into Carlo Ancelotti
    The fourth official checked on the ItalianCredit: Getty
    Ancelotti, 62, selected Uruguayan ace Valverde as part of his starting XI at Stamford Bridge.
    And the 23-year-old inadvertently barrelled into his boss during the game.
    Valverde attempted to compete with Cesar Azpilicueta for the ball, before his momentum saw him crash into Ancelotti.
    The force wasn’t enough to send Ancelotti to the ground, although it did cause him to double over in pain.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BLUES NEWS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Roman Abramovich ‘begs Rush Hour director for money’ EXCLUSIVE
    Valverde went on to play 86 minutes of the quarter-final clash, before being replaced by former Arsenal loanee Dani Ceballos.
    Madrid got off the perfect start on the night, with Karim Benzema heading masterfully past Edouard Mendy.
    The Frenchman then repeated the trick just three minutes later, putting Madrid 2-0 up.
    Kai Havertz managed to nod the Blues back into the contest on the stroke of half-time.
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    But Edouard Mendy’s horror mistake, compounded by Antonio Rudiger’s weak challenge, allowed Benzema to roll in his third just 46 seconds into the second-half.
    The Blues now face a tough task in overturning a 3-1 deficit at the Bernabeu next Tuesday.
    They first face Southampton in the Premier League this weekend.
    Karim Benzema stole the show at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty More

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    Chelsea ratings: Christensen had a Real stinker but Havertz gave Blues some hope of a Champions League miracle in Madrid

    CHELSEA’S defence of the Champions League is hanging on by a thread after the Karim Benzema show at Stamford Bridge.The veteran French striker scored a brilliant hat-trick as Real Madrid claimed a 3-1 win in West London in the quarter-final first-leg.
    Kai Havertz gave Chelsea tiny bit of hope with his goal against Real MadridCredit: Rex
    SunSport’s Gary Stonehouse was at the game to run the rule over each of the Chelsea players:
    MENDY – 4
    Absolutely nothing he could do about Benzema’s two headers in the first half – both were simply incredible.
    Made a decent stop from Dani Carvajal shortly after but his shocking error 46 seconds after the restart effectively ended hopes of a comeback on the night. 
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    CHRISTENSEN – 4
    Got sucked in as Vinicius Junior and Benzema slipped a one-two past him to create the first goal for the Frenchman.
    He was tormented by the Brazilian all first half.
    And, just like Silva, he could have been tighter to Benzema for the second but at least he was alert to clear the danger in the 33rd minute after Mendy’s save.
    His poor evening ended early as Tuchel took him out of the firing line at the break.
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    SILVA – 6
    Sucked out wide following Christensen as Benzema was allowed the freedom of Stamford Bridge for the first.
    Perhaps he was just outdone by some brilliant movement, but allowed Benzema to slip away to head home the second.
    Made some vital interceptions in the second period to redeem himself.
    RUDIGER – 5
    Has been heavily linked with a switch to Madrid ahead of his contract expiring but he didn’t take his opportunity to shine.
    And he will be looking back at his weak challenge on Benzema after being stitched up by Mendy’s mistake for days afterwards. 
    JAMES – 6
    Lost the ball early on which led to a rapid Real Madrid counter attack but luckily for him Vinicius Junior’s strike cannoned back off the bar.
    The South American kept finding acres between him and Christensen throughout the opening period.
    Up the other end he forced the returning Thibaut Courtois into a good save with a free-kick.
    An attacking threat all night.
    AZPILICUETA – 5
    Will be having nightmares about the first half as Madrid’s counter-attacks caused him all sorts of issues.
    His piledriver forced Courtois into a brilliant fingertip stop in the second period and looked better after a tactical change at the break.
    KANTE – 4
    A poor night for the much-loved Frenchman and failed to get into it at all or break up the Real counter.
    Hooked at the break along with Christensen.
    JORGINHO – 6
    Was just a second too slow off the mark tracking back as Benzema got crucial yards on him for the first goal.
    Produced a fantastic cross for Havertz to head home and worked hard before he was replaced.
    MOUNT – 7
    Making his 150th appearance for the club, he worked tirelessly all night and got stuck in several times too.
    Tried his best to make things happen but it just was not happening tonight.

    Kai Havertz was Chelsea’s best player against Real MadridCredit: Getty
    HAVERTZ – 7
    Popped up with a crucial header of his own to bravely get his team back into it.
    Was probably the best of the bunch with his work-rate – especially considering he had little help from Christian Pulisic.
    PULISIC – 4
    Struggled to make any impact.
    A quiet night for him was brought to an end just after the hour mark.
    SUBSTITUTES 
    KOVACIC (ON FOR CHRISTENSEN 46 MINS) – 6
    Added some energy into the middle but his huffing and puffing failed to inspire his team to a comeback.
    ZIYECH (ON FOR KANTE 46 MINS) – 5
    Failed to make an impact off the bench.
    LUKAKU (ON FOR PULISIC 64 MINS) – 5
    He did not properly connect with his first chance as groans filled the ground – and they were even louder seconds later when he headed wide from Azpilicueta’s cross.
    LOFTUS-CHEEK (ON FOR JORGINHO 64 MINS)
    Too little, and too late for him to make himself a hero. The stuffing had already been knocked out of his team. More