Chelsea vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid are on the brink of advancing to the Champions League semifinals after Karim Benzema guided Los Blancos to an impressive and deserved 3-1 win ...

That is 36 goals in 36 games this season and his 10th in the Champions League! This time it's from Modric and if the ball is within Benzema's reach, there's a threat for a goal. Valverde with a run towards goal, he finds Vinicius, who makes a move and fires off the crossbar and out! As the sayin goes, a two goal lead is the most dangerous in sports but a full Santago Bernabeu Stadium on a Champions League night is as tough of an environment as they come. It was a moment of redemption as Lukaku had a header on a platter and sends it... Modric sprung him and his cross found Benzema who just couldn't finish the chance from a tight angle. Even with the team bbehind by two goals, they only took nine shots in the second half compared to 11 in the first half despite playing a more attack-minded formation. Chelsea finished the match with 20 shots, 12 more than Real Madrid, but they have very little to show for it and face a massive uphill climb in the second leg. After losing to Brentford 4-1 on the weekend, defense has to be a concern for Thomas Tuchel as his side has now allowed seven goals in their last two matches. Mendy should've done better but one issue playing out of the back is that if it goes wrong, it usually goes wrong in a big way. With two different but excellent headers, Benzema's finishing was on display but it's just as impressive how he gets into position to receive a cross. Chelsea had no answer for Vinicius Junior playing on the back shoulder of the defense.

'Demigod' Benzema stuns champs Chelsea with sublime hat-trick after keeper's howler: CL Wrap.

Indeed, he became the first player since Ronaldo in 2017 to score consecutive hat-tricks in knockout Champions League games. Chelsea shifted to a back four and wrestled back momentum in the second half. “We had 16 shots in the second half. It is crucial that we go to Southampton. If we keep playing like this we will lose at Southampton and then we will get hammered at Bernabeu.” first half was so from any standards that we set ourselves that we cannot complain when we lose. It was one of the worst first halves that I saw from us here at Stamford Bridge. Individually and as a team it was by far not enough.

Holders Chelsea saw off Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals last season. Thomas Tuchel's men are looking for a repeat performance against the ...

Rudiger joins him in Clement Turpin's book for a cynical foul on Valverde. There's a joke about masks to be made there, but I'll leave you to join the dots. It's a dreadful effort in any circumstances but given the scoreline and how Benzema put Madrid in the ascendency, it really is a horror miss. Benzema continued his phenomenal recent form to leave Chelsea on the ropes and battered, but Havertz hit back. Right-back Carvajal is up in the opposition penalty area, something that persuades Rudiger to toe the ball towards his own goal. 86th minute: Madrid are taking the sting out of this and that extends to a double substitution. To continue a theme, there's a wonderful cross and a fine header. Benzema steals in to roll the ball into an unguarded net and make it back-to-back Champions League hat-tricks. 79th minute: An increasingly rare Madrid counter attack comes to nothing and Chelsea are back on the front foot. A Chelsea goal would change the complexion of the tie considerably. As Madrid cut through Chelsea during the opening stages, it felt like a trick of the mind to consider their starting XI looked relatively defensive. Chelsea were the better side from that point but were unable to reduce the deficit, with substitute Romelu Lukaku particularly culpable. Benzema still had lots to do but somehow planted a head high into the net from 16 yards.

Karim Benzemas hat-trick fired Real Madrid to a 3-1 victory at Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final first leg; only one side in the competitions ...

"I think Chelsea is a fantastic team, with fantastic players," he added. "We have to prepare for Saturday against Southampton and not the [return leg at the] Bernabeu," Tuchel elaborated. I think this is what is making the difference with him, he has a stronger personality now, he knows he is a very important player and that's why he is an example for everybody. Since the international break, we have obviously not looked the same and I don't really have an explanation. "We have to find ourselves again, I don't know where we have been since the international break. "With everything the game demands, you cannot expect a result from this kind of performance.

Get a report of the Chelsea vs. Real Madrid 2021-22 UEFA Champions League, Quarterfinals football match.

"It's not just about this game, we did it as well at the weekend," he added. "We can play much better. I'm happiest to have scored the third as I missed one in the first half and I was thinking about that chance because it's very important to score goals. I'm included in this," Tuchel told reporters. "It's on all of us. "They're very important goals.

Get a report of the Chelsea vs. Real Madrid 2021-22 UEFA Champions League, Quarterfinals football match.

"It's not just about this game, we did it as well at the weekend," he added. "We can play much better. I'm happiest to have scored the third as I missed one in the first half and I was thinking about that chance because it's very important to score goals. I'm included in this," Tuchel told reporters. "It's on all of us. "They're very important goals.

Real Madrid completed one of the great Champions League comebacks to get here, and they've been rewarded with a clash against reigning champions, Chelsea.

Throw in a generous set of security features, and ExpressVPN is the best all-round VPN for streaming. The Monthly Pass renews automatically every four weeks, but you can cancel it whenever you want. However, if you're away travelling for work or pleasure, you probably won't be able to watch tonight's match like you normally would at home. Follow our guide on how to watch a Chelsea vs Real Madrid live stream. Better still, you can watch Chelsea vs Real Madrid for free if you're a new customer, thanks to the 7-day Stan Sport FREE trial (opens in new tab). Chelsea were comfortable winners when these two sides met in last year's semis. Chelsea's 4-1 home defeat to Brentford was a shocker, but it didn't come entirely out of the blue. US fans can watch Chelsea vs Real Madrid with a 7-day FREE trial of Paramount Plus (opens in new tab). US subscribers abroad should use a VPN to tune in (opens in new tab). Those in the UK will need BT Sport. Thomas Tuchel's starting XI features eight defensive players, with Mason Mount and the pacey Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic bearing the brunt of the attacking workload. Can Madrid get payback? Madrid look set up to dominate possession, naming the vastly experienced trio of Luka Modrić, Casemiro and Toni Kroos in midfield. Live stream: BT Sport (UK) / FREE Paramount Plus trial (US) / DAZN (CA) / Stan Sport FREE trial (opens in new tab) (AU)