Welcome to Sportstar’s live blog of the Champions League quarterfinal first leg match between Real Madrid and Chelsea from the Samtiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain.
Benzema scores! A lovely lobbed ball by Carvajal for Vinicius whose shot is saved by Kepa but Benzema taps it in on the follow-up.
Fofana looks to have been tasked with marking Vinicus who has been menacing along the left wing and so far, barring the late foul and consequent yellow card, the young centre-back has done a decent job.
Vinicius tries to take a shot in the Chelsea bos but gos down just before the strike appealing for a penalty. The referee, however, is not interseted at all.
In the last clash between the two sides, Chelsea had already scored with Mason Mount finding the net. Tonigh however, Felix, though, coming, close, has not been able to beat the final libe of defence so far.
Vinicius and Benzema combine for a great development in the Chelsea box. Vinicius gets the through ball, passes to Benzema, who takes a shot that is ultimately saved by Kepa.
Real Madrid is starting to build from the back. It’s ability to strike with quick movements saw it hammer four goals p[ast Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey semifinal but Chelsea looks to have taken notes fro the game as it is shutting down channels comfortably.
Valverde delivers a daigonal pass for Rodrygo but Chelsea gets the ball back and Lampard’s side is showing real mettle in the midfield with Kante and Enzo pulling strings with finesse here.
Chelsea turns the tables with Enzo winning the ball back and passing it to Kante who then gets it to Sterling. The former Man City man tries to cut in to his left but is fouled by Camavinga and the Frenchman gets a yelow card this time.
Real claws its control back in the game with regulation passes and Modric being the midfield giant that he is with controlled passing along the middle of the park.
Chelsea is attacking the along the two wings with Enzo proving to be a crucial presence alongside Kante. Real, however, wins the ball in front of its box and tries to attack on the counter and Fofana stops Vinicius to get into the book in what is the first card of the game.
Chelsea attacks on the counter with Enzo winning the ball and passing to Kante. The France midfielder gets the ball through to Felix who manages well to shoot from the edge of the box to force a save by Courtois.
Benzema tries to won the ball in front of the box but he is being marked tightly by Koulibaly as he fails to capitalise on the chance and Real is forced to try other ways to penetrate the final third.
Chelsea gets the ball rolling from right to left. It starts in its convenstional blue kit while Real, playing at home, also starts in its home kit of all white.
The players walkk out of the tunnel and queue up for the UCL anthem. Lampard greets his former boss Ancelotti with a friendly hug ahead of what surely will be a fantastic contest.
Real Madrid starts in its conventional 4-3-3 formation while Chelsea has decided to go with a three-man defence. Lampard’s side starts with a 3-5-2 shape with Felix and Sterling leading the attack.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side has arrived in its kingdom. Karim Benzema, its leader in attack and captain, will look to repeat history when he plays former foe Chelsea.
There’s pressure on both teams due to the size of both clubs. Are Real Madrid favourites? Yes. (But) there’s no better carrot in football than trying to prove people wrong. I think that’s a nice challenge for us. I’m not worried about that, in terms of pressure. Football at this level is pressure and if you can’t handle it, you’re not a big club or big player
Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Camavinga, Valverde, Modric, Kroos, Vini Jr, Benzema, Rodrygo.
Chelsea XI: Kepa, James, Fofana, T.Silva, Koulibaly, Chilwell, kante, Fernandez, Kovacic, Felix, Sterling
I am sad, yes,” Ancelotti said about Chelsea poor form in the Premier League, before the first leg clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“I have a fantastic memory of this club, of the people that are still working there. I’m a supporter of Chelsea, of course, because I spent two really nice years there.
He (Lampard) has 20 years less experience, but that will not change what will happen in the game. He was a fantastic player, extraordinary, he knows very well what can happen in these games but experience, in these matches, I don’t think counts for much.
He arrived at the club a week ago, with a lot of players that he already knew, I think he’ll do well in the time that he’s at Chelsea.”
The latest encounter between Real Madrid and Chelsea in the Champions League will put a spotlight on their coaches.
Chelsea will travel for Wednesday’s first leg in Madrid with Frank Lampard trying to win for the first time since being named interim coach.
Madrid will play still surrounded by doubts about Carlo Ancelotti’s future amid rumours of him taking over Brazil’s national team.
The outcome could potentially help Lampard reclaim a permanent job with the English club, or influence Ancelotti’s decision on whether to accept the Brazil job.
Chelsea appointed Lampard to replace Graham Potter and lost its first game with him in charge in the Premier League over the weekend. The club enters the match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on a four-match winless run. It has won only two of its last 11 matches in the Premier League, where it sits in 11th place.
“We have an opportunity against a fantastic team and we just have to attempt to make the most of the opportunity — go there with confidence and go there with a belief, because otherwise you don’t turn up,” said Lampard, the former Chelsea midfield great who also coached the team from 2019-21.
Ancelotti and Madrid are coming off a 3-2 home loss to Villarreal that all-but-ended the team’s hopes of winning the Spanish league, leaving it 13 points behind leader Barcelona with 10 matches remaining. Its focus now is on the Champions League and the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna in May.
Ancelotti has said he wants to remain with Madrid until the end of his contract next year, but acknowledged that he was flattered to know about Brazil’s interest in him. Brazil’s national team has an interim coach since after the World Cup and wants a replacement to be announced soon.
The last two Champions League winners, Madrid and Chelsea have gotten used to facing each other in the knockout stages of the competition recently.
Madrid got the best of Chelsea in the quarterfinals last season on its way to a record-extending 14th European title. Chelsea overcame Madrid in the semifinals in the previous year to eventually secure its second Champions League trophy.
Chelsea eliminated Madrid 3-1 on aggregate amid the coronavirus pandemic in 2020-21, while Madrid last year advanced with a 5-4 total score following extra time in a thrilling second leg at the Bernabeu.
Madrid is looking to make it to the semifinals for the 11th time in 13 seasons, while Chelsea has appeared in the last four only once since 2013-14.
Madrid has won six of its eight Champions League games this season, with a loss at Leipzig and a draw at Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage. Chelsea has five victories, one draw and two defeats — to Dinamo Zagreb in the group stage and to Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the round of 16. The draw came against Salzburg in the group stage.
Ancelotti will have nearly all of his players available for the first leg, with the exception of left back Ferland Mendy.
Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante didn’t play in Chelsea’s last game in the Premier League but returned to training on Monday and should be available for the trip to the Spanish capital.
The winner of the series will face Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the semifinals.