Real Madrid qualified for the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, after confirming its superiority over Chelsea, defeating it 2-0 at home, on Tuesday, in the second leg of the quarter-finals.
Real Madrid had won the first leg 2-0 at its home stadium, “Santiago Bernabeu”, thus qualifying for the golden square, winning with a total score of 4-0, after deciding the return match with two goals scored by Rodrigo in the 58th and 80th minutes.
Chelsea excelled in possession relatively, as it was the most dangerous offensive for long periods during the match, but Real Madrid succeeded in keeping a clean sheet and securing its qualification with a double from Rodrigo, to take a new step towards preserving the title that holds the record for the number of times crowned with 14 titles.
Chelsea, under the leadership of coach Frank Lampard, failed to avenge their exit from the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season at the hands of Real Madrid, as the first leg ended with a 3/1 victory for Real Madrid, and the return match ended with a 3/2 victory for Chelsea, to qualify for Real Madrid as a winner. Overall 5-4.
And at Stamford Bridge, the match started with a fast rhythm, and Real Madrid quickly imposed its style of play by excelling in possession of the ball, but it faced a tight defensive organization on the part of Chelsea, who imposed strict control, especially on Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior.
The first real opportunity in the match was presented to Chelsea in the 11th minute, when the ball reached N’Golo Kante, unmarked at the edge of the penalty area, but he hit a ball that passed right next to the post.
Chelsea gained more confidence and insisted on early progress among its fans, as its offensive attempts continued, while Real Madrid intensified its focus on the defensive side for minutes.
Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal cooperated with fellow goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in thwarting a dangerous attempt by Chelsea in the 18th minute.
Real Madrid struggled greatly in the 20th minute, as Rodrigo received a cross and hit a dangerous surprise ball from inside the penalty area, but the post tackled it.
Real Madrid intensified its offensive pressure to score and facilitate its task in the second half, but Chelsea stuck to focus and defensive cohesion, waiting for the opportunity to score the royal net and reduce the difference.
Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior penetrated into the penalty area in the 28th minute and hit a powerful ball, but Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga saved it firmly.
With the start of the last quarter of an hour of the first half, Chelsea strengthened its control over the ball and intensified its offensive pressure greatly, hoping to score and revive its fortunes again.
Real almost surprised Chelsea in the 41st minute, as Luka Modric passed a wonderful cross to Vinicius, who directed the ball directly with his foot, but it passed next to the post.
In the 43rd minute, there was another opportunity similar to Real Madrid, as Federico Valverde brilliantly launched and sent a cross to Benzema, who shot without hesitation, but the ball hit the net from the outside.
In the first minute of stoppage time for the first half, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved Real Madrid from a goal, as he brilliantly saved a dangerous ball from Chelsea midfielder Mark Cucurella.
Chelsea started the second half with intense attacking pressure, forcing Real Madrid to focus on defensive insurance for minutes.
With the start of the second half, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti pushed Antonio Rudiger instead of David Alaba.
Chelsea almost took the lead early in the second half, but Eder Militao deputized goalkeeper Courtois in blocking the attack, while Courtois tackled a dangerous ball from Kai Havertz in the 57th minute.
Despite Chelsea’s offensive superiority, Real Madrid succeeded in advancing in the 58th minute, as Rodrigo launched a dangerous attack and passed a ball that reached Vinicius, who returned it to Rodrigo to score it in the net, announcing Real Madrid’s progress 1-0.
In the 66th minute, Vinicius brilliantly penetrated into the penalty area and passed the ball to Rodrigo, who prepared it for Karim Benzema to shoot, but the goalkeeper saved it.
And Frank Lampard, coach of Chelsea, made three changes at once in the 67th minute, as he involved Joao Felix, Raheem Sterling and Mikhaylo Modric instead of Conor Calagher, Mark Cucuria and Enzo Fernandez.
Chelsea insisted on not leaving the match empty-handed, but Real Madrid stuck to keeping its net clean.
And in the 71st minute, Ancelotti included the player Aurelien Chuamini instead of Karim Benzema, who had scored a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s last previous match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, on April 6, 2022, in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season. .
Real Madrid doubled the pain of Chelsea and its fans when it added the second goal in the 80th minute, as Vinicius passed the ball in front of the goal to Valverde, who prepared it for Rodrigo to enter the net, scoring the second goal for him and Real Madrid, announcing the royal progress 2 – zero.
Modric almost scored a goal to save face for Chelsea in the 88th minute, as he received a longitudinal and set off until he penetrated the boundaries of the penalty area and hit hard, but the ball passed next to the post at a time when the referee also indicated the presence of offside, and the remaining minutes did not result in anything new, so that the match ended with Real’s victory. Madrid, the defending champion, 2-0, and qualified for the semi-finals.
