Karim Benzema scored a sensational hat-trick as Actual Madrid received 3-1 at Chelsea to take a agency grip on their Champions League quarter-final tie.
Carlo Ancelotti’s aspect had been a very completely different aspect from the one which visited Stamford Bridge final season within the semi-final of the identical competitors and can really feel assured forward of the return leg on the Santiago Bernabeu subsequent week.
Benzema was the tormentor-in-chief on the Bridge, scoring two targets in two minutes within the first half earlier than finishing his hat-trick early within the second interval.
Kai Havertz, who has grow to be a big-game participant for Thomas Tuchel’s aspect go the comfort for the London membership.
The match received off to an intriguing begin, with Chelsea seeking to assert their dominance within the opening quarter of an hour.
It was the Spanish aspect although who got here near taking the lead after simply 10 minute when Vinicius Jr obtained a neat ball contained in the field, however his effort bounced off the woodwork with Edouard Mendy crushed in purpose.
Chelsea then received an opportunity within the fifteenth minute when Havertz was introduced down on the sting of the field, with Reece James testing Thibaut Courtois in purpose with a ferocious shot.
Madrid stored knocking and their efforts lastly paid off within the twenty first minute when in-form Benzema and Vinicius Jr performed a one-two with the previous brilliantly heading dwelling for the opener.
It took solely two minutes for Madrid to double their lead, and it was the Frenchman once more with an excellent header, this time attending to the top of a Luka Modric floated ball.
A minute later Havertz went down contained in the field, however the referee may hear none of it as he waved play on.
With 5 minutes to half-time, Chelsea received a lifeline when Havertz received on to an ideal Jorginho cross contained in the field to powerfully head dwelling, beating Courtois from girls yards out.
Thomas Tuchel made an opportunity at half-time, withdrawing Christensen for Hakim Ziyech and ditched the three-man protection for a back-four.
A minute into the second interval, the Blues conceded a 3rd purpose in a second of insanity from Edouard Mendy, whose poor ball to Antonio Rudger was intercepted by Benzema, who gleefully discovered the web from mid-range with a primary time effort for his hat-trick.
Regardless of happening 3-1, Chelsea stored attacking and got here near discovering the again of the web on various events.
One such probability fell to Romelu Lukaku within the 69th minute, however he failed to seek out the goal from a couple of yards out, sending his effort inches of the suitable put up.
Reece James, Mason Mount, and Ziyech all received probabilities late on, however none may rating as Madrid left London with a wholesome lead forward of subsequent week’s return leg.
