Actual Madrid made the journey to reigning European champions Chelsea’s yard for the primary leg of their Champions League quarter-final conflict on Wednesday evening.
The Blues have been anticipated to take the sport by the scruff of its neck and produce a stellar efficiency at Stamford Bridge. Los Blancos, nevertheless, had different different concepts.
Avenging final season’s semi-final defeat, Karim Benzema scored an outstanding hat-trick to information the Whites to an emphatic 3-1 win away from dwelling. The victory additionally marked Actual Madrid’s first win over the Blues within the European competitors.
Los Merengues ceded possession to Chelsea within the opening minutes and determined to hit the hosts on the break. Within the tenth minute, they produced a neat opening for Vinicius Junior, however the Brazilian slammed his effort in opposition to the crossbar.
11 minutes later, Vinicius made amends by offering a juicy early cross for Benzema, which the Frenchman buried into the again of the web.
Three minutes later, the Actual Madrid No. 9 took Chelsea to the sword, as soon as once more guiding a header previous Edouard Mendy. The Blues pulled one again by way of Kai Havertz within the fortieth minute to make the sport fascinating, however Madrid by no means overpassed aim. Seconds into the second half, a mistake from Mendy was duly punished by Benzema to revive Madrid’s two-goal cushion.
The hosts tried arduous to crawl their method again into the sport, however substitute Romelu Lukaku’s wayward ending stored them from including to their tally. All in all, it was an ideal show by the Whites, one which established them as a strong contender for the UCL title this season.
Listed here are 5 Los Blancos stars who helped their crew take a huge step in direction of the Champions League semi-finals:
#5 Daniel Carvajal
Actual Madrid right-back Daniel Carvajal rolled again the years and produced an impeccable efficiency down his channel. With Valverde within the crew, the 30-year-old had the liberty to enterprise into superior areas, which vastly aided his gameplay.
Carvajal’s exchanges with Valverde have been neat as he routinely pushed additional up the pitch and was rock strong on the again as effectively.
Within the thirty third minute, Carvajal popped up in Chelsea’s field and dispatched a intelligent move for Vinicius Junior down the left facet. Christensen one way or the other repositioned himself and cleared the ball out of hazard.
In opposition to the Blues, the Spaniard registered 5 clearances, blocked two pictures, gained 5 duels, and precisely dispatched 5 of his six lengthy balls.
An encouraging efficiency from Carvajal forward of Actual Madrid’s most vital part of the season.
#4 Luka Modric
Luka Modric, 36, is the right definition of a piece horse. Regardless of firmly being on the improper facet of 30, the Croat runs tougher than anybody, by no means tiring, by no means on the lookout for excuses to evade a bout. The Los Blancos No. 10 is the glue that holds this star-studded crew collectively.
In opposition to Chelsea, Modric produced one other basic efficiency. He ran just like the wind, helped out on the again, and helped his crew within the assault as effectively.
Within the twenty fourth minute, Modric put in a deep early cross for his veteran teammate Benzema. The Frenchman guided the ball elegantly previous Mendy to double his and Actual’s tally.
Modric struggled a bit within the second half however his dedication to the trigger got here in helpful.
He coated the right-flank effectively, carried the ball into the attacking-third every time doable, and ensured Chelsea by no means had an excessive amount of time on their fingers.
Modric made two interceptions and performed 46 passes (82.1 % accuracy), with one being key.
#3 Vinicius Junior
Actual Madrid left-winger Vinicius Junior loved one other glorious outing on Wednesday evening. The Brazilian used his tempo brilliantly, troubling Andreas Christensen all through the 90, and assisted Benzema’s glorious opening aim.
He did miss a very good probability to open the scoring within the tenth minute, however his general gameplay greater than made up for it.
Karim Benzema and Vinícius Júnior have mixed for five Champions League objectives this season, essentially the most duo within the competitors until now
✋ Karim Benzema and Vinícius Júnior have mixed for five Champions League objectives this season, essentially the most duo within the competitors until now https://t.co/DZfoFpku6t
Within the twenty first minute, the Brazilian performed a bit one-two with Benzema earlier than dashing down the left and offering an inch-perfect cross into the world. The Madrid No. 9 met the cross with aplomb and wheeled away in celebration.
Other than the help, the 21-year-old performed a key move, gained 5 floor duels and drew three fouls.
#2 Federico Valverde
Over the course of the marketing campaign, Actual Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has predominantly used a 4-3-3 formation. When match, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro have been Ancelotti’s go-to midfielders, which means Valverde have spent an terrible period of time warming the bench.
On Wednesday evening, the Italian opted for a morphed 4-4-2 formation, giving the Uruguayan worldwide an opportunity to shine.
Working down the right-flank, Valverde produced one in every of his best-ever performances in Actual Madrid colours. He freed up Dani Carvajal, overloaded the midfield, contributed to Madrid’s assaults, and tracked again diligently.
The 23-year-old was virtually omni-present at Stamford Bridge, producing an outstanding box-to-box show.
He made two key passes, gained six duels, recorded 27 passes with 84.4 % accuracy, tried three tackles, and was solely dribbled previous as soon as.
A mesmerizing show by some of the promising central midfielders on the earth.
#1 Karim Benzema
Having scored two consecutive hat-tricks in Champions League knockout fixtures, Karim Benzema has emerged as essentially the most in-form participant on the earth. The Actual Madrid captain wears the armband with pleasure and leads by instance, inspiring his teammates to go the additional mile.
Final evening, too, we noticed Benzema in all his glory, inflicting distress upon the defending European champions.
The 34-year-old opened the scoring within the twenty first minute, enjoying a intelligent one-two with Vinicius earlier than curling the Brazilian’s cross previous Mendy. The Frenchman’s second got here three minutes later, this time from an early cross by Modric. Intelligent as ever, the No. 9 utilized a fragile end to loop his header previous Chelsea’s Senegalese goalkeeper.
Benzema had an opportunity to finish his hat-trick simply earlier than the half-time whistle, however his end was uncharacteristically off course.
Moments after the restart, Benzema finally ensured the match ball, rolling the ball into the again of an empty internet following Mendy’s dreadful move.
Following his hat-trick, Benzema grew to become the second participant in Champions League historical past to attain trebles in consecutive knock-out fixtures. His former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo is the one different participant to have achieved this feat in 2016-17.
The Frenchman has scored 37 objectives in 36 appearances in all competitions this season, with 11 of these strikes coming within the premier European competitors.
Additionally Learn: 5 Chelsea gamers who underperformed in opposition to Actual Madrid | UEFA Champions League quarter-final 1st leg
