Karim Benzema’s header crushed Chelsea’s brilliant comeback as Real Madrid lost 3-2 but reached the Champions League semi-finals 5-4 on aggregate.
Ruthless France hitman Benzema produced a carbon-copy of the two headed goals he scored in last week’s quarter-final first-leg at Stamford Bridge, where his hat-trick had Real expecting to stroll into the last four.
Leeds United, Marsch, Bielsa and football’s eternal battle
Champions League holders Chelsea turned up in Madrid with other ideas however, big ideas in fact, of a memorable and odds-defying comeback in this pulsating second-leg.
The Blues shook off their 3-1 deficit from the first leg and took Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid apart.
Mason Mount, Toni Rudiger and Timo Werner put the Blues 3-0 up and on the very cusp of completing that miracle of Madrid, and that with a Marcos Alonso effort chalked off for handball.
Luka Modric rescued Real though, delivering a sublime raking pass that allowed Rodrygo to race on and volley into the net past a stunned Edouard Mendy.
Chelsea’s fourth stint of extra-time this season duly ensued and after all their efforts and three smart goals, one flick of the head from Benzema brought the Madrid house down.
The 34-year-old turned home Vinicius Junior’s cross with another potent aerial finish to wrestle the Champions League-holders status from Chelsea’s grip.
Benzema now has 38 goals in as many games for Real Madrid in all competitions this season. Such marksmanship invariably…
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