Chelsea vs Real Madrid LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction as Benzema scores hat-trick

Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid: Re action from the first leg of the quarter-final clash at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea and Real Madrid square off in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final (Action Images via Reuters)

Karim Benzema scored a scintillating hat-trick to put Real Madrid in control of their Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea, with a 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.

The Frenchman netted two sublime headers in the first half and, although Kai Havertz pulled one back for Chelsea with a header of his own before half-time, Benzema capitalised on a clanger from Edouard Mendy early in the second period to make it 3-1.

It was an incredibly entertaining, open game in west London but the Blues have it all to do in Madrid next week to take the defence of their Champions League trophy to the semi-final stage.

The contest is a rematch of one of last season’s semi-finals, where the Premier League side emerged as 3-1 aggregate winners, but this time they will have to produce an almighty European comeback to set up a last-four clash with either Manchester City or Atletico Madrid.

Follow all the reaction from Stamford Bridge below:

Chelsea vs Real Madrid - LIVE

• 46’ - GOAL! Benzema completes hat-trick after Mendy howler (1-3)
• 40’ - GOAL! Havertz heads home to get Chelsea back in it (1-2)
• 24’ - GOAL! Benzema quickly at the double with a second headed goal (0-2)
• 21’ - GOAL! Benzema powers in a stunning header from Vini Jr’s cross (0-1)

[6 April 2022 21:07 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 3 Real Madrid

49 mins: That is an awful goal to concede for Chelsea. Edouard Mendy’s confidence must is at an all-time low. He’s shipped seven goals in his last two games.

Chance! Kai Havertz sees a shot blocked by Dani Carvajal but the ball rolls out to Cesar Azpilicueta. He drills a right-footed shot back at goal but Thibaut Courtois leaps across to his left and palm the ball wide of the back post!

[6 April 2022 21:04 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Chelsea 1 - 3 Real Madrid (Benzema, 46’)⚽️

46 mins: Horror show from Edouard Mendy. A simple long ball is punted up the pitch by Real and Mendy comes out of his box and brings the ball under control. Karim Benzema presses him and the goalkeeper underhits a pass across to Antonio Rudiger. Rudiger is on a yellow card and can’t fling himself into the tackle. Benzema takes the ball and shrugs off the defender before tapping it into the wide open goal!

[6 April 2022 21:03 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Chelsea 1 - 2 Real Madrid

Kick off: Thomas Tuchel makes a couple of changes at the break with Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech coming on in place of Andreas Christensen and N’Golo Kante.

[6 April 2022 20:59 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 2 Real Madrid

Karim Benzema has scored 2+ goals in his last four games for Real Madrid - the only other player to score a brace in four consecutive appearances within the big five European leagues this season (all competitions) is Kylian Mbappe.

[6 April 2022 20:55 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 2 Real Madrid

Karim Benzema has become the first player to reach 10+ goals in a single campaign in Champions League history and the first to do so in European Cup competition since Just Fontaine in 1958/59.

[6 April 2022 20:51 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 2 Real Madrid

Two great headers from Karim Benzema gave Real Madrid what seemed to be a comfortable lead but Kai Havertz has given Chelsea a route back into this tie. Can they go a find an equaliser in the second half?

(AFP via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

[6 April 2022 20:47 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: Chelsea 1 - 2 Real Madrid

45+1 mins: What a first half that was! Karim Benzema scored two beautiful goals for Real Madrid to rock the home side but Chelsea responded through Kai Havertz who has brought them back withing touching distance of the La Liga leaders.

More of the same in the next 45 minutes please.

[6 April 2022 20:43 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 2 Real Madrid

43 mins: Chance! Karim Benzema should have had a hat-trick! Vinicius Junior makes a run in behind on the left side and collects a through ball. He squares it into the box for Benzema arriving in from the opposite wing. Antonio Rudiger fails to deal with it and Benzema sends a shot from the tip of the six-yard box wide of the far post!

[6 April 2022 20:40 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Chelsea 1 - 2 Real Madrid (Havertz, 40’)⚽️

40 mins: Chelsea are back in it! Reece James drives the ball down the right wing and brings it to the edge of the box. He passes it inside to Jorginho who lifts the ball into the middle of the box. Kai Havertz runs off the shoulder of Dani Carvajal and meets the ball in the air. His header is a good one and beats the goalkeeper despite Thibaut Courtois getting a hand to the ball!

[6 April 2022 20:38 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 0 - 2 Real Madrid

36 mins: Kante gets into the box to receive the ball but Casemiro manages to prod it behind for a corner. Mason Mount delivers it into the middle and Thiago Silva bursts through a cluster of bodies to head his effort wide of goal.