Benzema, Chelsea’s scourge on the similar stage of the competitors final season, transformed from level clean vary within the twenty first minute after Kepa Arrizabalaga saved from Vinicius Júnior however might solely contact the ball within the Frenchman’s route.
it was benzema’s ninetieth Champions League With the ultimate 11 the goal is coming towards English golf equipment.
Chelsea – after a disappointing season to date underneath caretaker coach Frank Lampard – got here near scoring within the first half, however Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling had been thwarted by Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, taking part in towards his former membership.
The Londoners’ probabilities of getting again into the sport suffered a significant blow within the 59th minute when Ben Chilwell was proven a straight pink card for knocking down the Brazilian’s shirt and bringing down Rodrigo whereas he was urgent on purpose.
Asensio had been on the sphere for simply three minutes when he was fed by Vinicius on the sting of the field and the Spain worldwide drilled in a low shot that went by the legs of Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and overcame Kepa’s dive.
Victory on the Santiago Bernabeu stadium places the 14-time European champions within the driver’s seat forward of the second leg at Stamford Bridge on April 18.
Benzema, who scored a hat-trick in London final yr and netted one other in Madrid in a 5-4 mixture thriller, might have successfully overwhelmed Chelsea in extra-time on the finish of the second half when he scored his purpose. transfer ahead with After the mercy, Kepa might solely move the ball to him.
Chelsea substitute Mason Mount got here near an important purpose for the Blues when he turned and shot into the penalty space however former teammate Antonio Rudiger additionally rushed off the bench to dam.
Ultimately, the Londoners failed to attain for the fourth match in a row – three of them within the Premier League – their longest barren run since 1993.
Lampard – Chelsea’s high goalscorer, who returned to Stamford Bridge for a second spell as coach till the tip of the season after Graham Potter was fired this month – on the ultimate whistle Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, himself an ex-Chelsea He was the supervisor, embraced him.
“They’re an excellent workforce however we’ve to imagine,” Lampard informed BT Sport, referring to subsequent week’s return in London.
(with inputs from Reuters)