Real Madrid is already in the semifinals after a content match at Stamford Bridge, where they were more concerned with enduring the 2-0 first leg than with proposing an offensive game. In the second half and after strict defensive discipline and a couple of good saves from Courtois, the Whites killed the game with two counterattacks finished off by Rodrygo.
Chelsea, who came in the midst of a crisis, with a draw and four defeats in their last five games, in which they had only scored one goal, was more than at the Santiago Bernabéu, which was not difficult at all because there was quite a bit. He never really got into the tie.
If Madrid played its cards with the foreseeable, the same eleven that won the Cup in Barcelona and the one in the first leg against Chelsea himself, Frank Lampard did surprise in the line-up because he started an eleven that did not seem very offensive, with a defense of five, although with two forward wingers: Reece James on the right and Cucurella on the left, who replaced the suspended Chilwell, sent off in Madrid. Above Lampard changed strikers and left Sterling and João Félix on the bench and opted for Gallagher and the German Havertz.
Chelsea’s game was intense, looking to hurt the whites with James’ raises, who had them with Camavinga, who defended his position quite well. It was the eleventh time that the Frenchman played on the left side and suffered less than other times.
The entire first half was a desire to get rhythm into the game on the part of Chelsea and a Madrid that lowered the tension of the game with horizontal passes and long possessions. He lacked a bit of fang to put fear in Chelsea’s body that he increased when he saw his enemy so shy and conservative.
The game gave Chelsea possession, but it was immediately clear that the Blues are not too many goals. He had two chances in the first half, the first very soon, a failed shot from Kanté that missed the goal because he hit it with his left foot. Then, he already had to wait until very close to the break, in added time, when Cucurella finished off what seemed like the first goal from point-blank range but Courtois made a save of his own, with goal value.
While Chelsea attacked, Madrid defended itself above all with the piecework of Valverde, who returned to his best performance (they gave him the MVP), and the precision of Kroos. VinÃcius did not intervene and the only chance of real danger for the whites came from a shot by Rodrygo that hit the outside of the post.
The second half started with Rüdiger on the field instead of Alaba. It seemed that the change was going to be Militão because, in addition to suffering a blow with Havertz, he had received a yellow card that will prevent him from being in the first leg of the semifinals.
The second half began with a Reece James tackle on Camavinga that was yellow but could very well have been red. The script of the game was the same. Chelsea put pressure on the game and Madrid lived locked up in their area, shooting counters with a dropper. Gallagher was able to score the first but Militão’s back got in the way to prevent the goal. In minute 54 the Brazilian played the second yellow card for a hard tackle. The Italian referee, Orsato, did not see the card action.
At the time when Madrid was more overwhelmed, the whites brought out their most competitive side. An error by Cucurella in minute 58 led to a counter to Madrid by Rodrygo. The play ended in an assist from VinÃcius and an unappealable shot from Rodrygo, one of his decisive goals in this competition that is going so well for him.
Lampard made a triple offensive change and Ancelotti reacted by removing Benzema for Tchouaméni to shield the midfield. A second goal from Rodrygo still came in 1980 in the midst of the English debacle. More goals could have come from the whites. The tie had no color. Madrid was much superior and played as they wanted with Lampard’s team. Now wait for City or Bayern.
