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
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 0 - 2 Real Madrid
33 mins: Chance! Dani Carvajal pops up in the centre of the pitch for Real Madrid and slots the ball to Karim Benzema before continuing his run into the box. Benzema gives it to Valverde who slides a pass into the penalty area that Carvajal collects. He cuts back and shifts away from Thiago Silva before flicking a shot at goal. Edouard Mendy sticks out a hand to keep it out and Andreas Christensen completes the clearance for Chelsea.
Chelsea 0 - 2 Real Madrid
30 mins: Chelsea are still dangerous. Reece James carries the ball down the right side and picks out Kai Havertz with a nice pass across the front edge of the box. The striker eyes but a shot but Luka Modric scrambles back and pokes the ball back to his goalkeeper but Havertz can shoot.
Chelsea 0 - 2 Real Madrid
27 mins: Penalty shout! How do Chelsea handle this now. Do they go all out and risk shipping more goals or do they consolidate and try to limit the damage?
Kai Havertz prefers the first option and brings the ball into the box. He’s met by Casemiro who is a little giddy in his attempt to recover the ball. There’s definite contact between the players and Havertz goes down but the referee isn’t interested in the penalty appeal.
GOAL! Chelsea 0 - 2 Real Madrid (Benzema, 24’)⚽️
24 mins: Benzema again! He’s got his second inside of three minutes with another fine header. Luka Modric swings the ball into the box from the inside right channel and Benzema just lets it arrive. He peels off his marker andgoes for accuracy over power by nodding the ball past Mendy’s left arm!
GOAL! Chelsea 0 - 1 Real Madrid (Benzema, 21’)⚽️
21 mins: What a goal! Real Madrid inject some pace into their attack through Karim Benzema who drops to collect the ball and spins it towards goal. He guides a pass over to Vinicius Junior who sprints away from Andreas Christensen and carries the ball to the byline. He chips it back into the box where Benzema meets the ball with a perfectly guided headed that beats Edouard Mendy at the near post!
Chelsea 0 - 0 Real Madrid
19 mins: Antonio Rudiger joins Eder Militao in the book thanks to a clumsy nudge on Valverde. He’s then encouraged to shoot as the ball comes to him just outside the box. He’s scored from similar positions before but decides not to this time. Instead the ball is chipped into the box where Mason Mount gets to the ball first and heads it safely into the hands of Thibaut Courtois.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Real Madrid
16 mins: Save! The free kick is just to the left of goal about 20-yards out. There are a couple of potential set piece takers but this one is left for Reece James who whips a decent, low curling shot towards goal and forces a diving stop out of Thibaut Courtois!
Chelsea 0 - 0 Real Madrid
14 mins: Yellow card to Eder Militao! Real Madrid were seemingly in control of the ball as it gets passed back to Militao. He miscontrols the ball and allows Kai Havertz the time needed to nip in and win possession on the edge of the Madrid box. Militao panics and pulls Havertz down giving Chelsea a free kick in a dangerous area.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Real Madrid
11 mins: Off the bar! What a counter-attack from Real Madrid. They win the ball in the middle of the pitch and Karim Benzema bursts forward down the right side. He backheels a pass into the path of Federico Valverde who drives to the edge of the box and slots the ball over to Vinicius Junior. He rolls it onto his right foot and shoots, firing his effort into the crossbar allowing Chelsea to clear their lines!
Chelsea 0 - 0 Real Madrid
9 mins: N’Golo Kante closes down Toni Kroos and gives away a free kick to Real Madrid. It’s taken quickly with the ball knocked into the right side of the Chelsea box to match Federico Valverde’s run from the wing. Edouard Mendy makes an early decision to come out and claim the ball, beating the midfielder to it just inside his own box and manages to bring it under control to end the attack.
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