Chelsea head to Madrid subsequent week understanding that they’ll want one among their finest ever Champions League performances to make it into the semi-finals and proceed their European title defence after falling to a 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge to a Karim Benzema impressed Actual Madrid.
In a pulsating first half that had the makings of a Champions League traditional, Benzema headed in a shocking opener from a Vinicius Junior cross, earlier than moments later he reproduced the trick to double Los Blancos lead, Luka Modric this time the supplier.
KARIM BENZEMA STOP THAT! 🎯
He had no proper to attain that! Ridiculous header 💥#UCL pic.twitter.com/jWtW2l1kcZ
— Soccer on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 6, 2022
It may have been worse, however Chelsea held on and confirmed their very own high quality when a fantastic Jorginho cross was nodded in by Kai Havertz, handing the Blues a lifeline within the recreation.
That lifeline was squandered only a minute into the second half, nevertheless, as a horrible error from Edouard Mendy 25 yards out handed Benzema the possibility to finish his hat-trick, and a person of his high quality wanted no second invitation.
The Blues moved to a again 4 and definitely improved as Actual Madrid sat again within the second half, however created little and now know that they’ll want a monumental effort on the Santiago Bernabeu subsequent week to show the tie round and advance to the final 4.
Unsurprisingly, then, few in Chelsea blue stood out in 101s participant rankings.
Chelsea
Edouard Mendy – 4
Simply when Chelsea seemed again within the recreation, Mendy handed Actual Madrid a 3rd a minute into the second half with an terrible move that allowed Benzema to finish his hat trick.
Reece James – 5
Left his teammate remoted with Vinicius within the first half, that would have left the scoreline trying far worse than 2-1. Was higher within the second half when tasked with conserving the Brazilian quiet himself.
Andreas Christensen – 4
Didn’t deal in any respect with Vinicius Junior, and was hooked at half time. An evening to neglect for the Dane.
Antonio Rudiger – 5
Booked within the opening quarter-hour and was unable to do something for both of Benzema’s headers. Ought to have carried out higher for the third, nevertheless.
Thiago Silva – 5
Was a part of a creaking defence within the first half, however was the very best of a nasty bunch. Was untested within the second half.
Cesar Azpilicueta -5
Was most likely misused being deployed on the left aspect, and will do nothing however watch on as his aspect crumbled on the alternative flank.
N’Golo Kante – 4
A uncommon off night time for the Frenchman. Couldn’t cease Modric and Kroos chopping by way of the Blues, and made approach at half time for Mateo Kovacic.
Jorginho – 6
Offered a scrumptious cross for Kai Havertz to move Chelsea again into the sport. Was overrun in midfield by Modrid and Kroos as Kante wandered, and was taken off on the hour mark.
Mason Mount – 4
Labored arduous however couldn’t get into the sport and was largely nameless. Will probably be hoping for a really totally different second leg.
Kai Havertz- 6
Had one probability and took it. Displaying Lukaku how a quantity 9 must be main the Chelsea line.
Christian Pulisic – 3
Invisible within the first half, and was fortunate to final past the interval. Was no shock to see him hooked early within the second half.
Subs:
Hakim Ziyech – 4
Was one other that was handled nicely by the Actual Madrid defence. Changed Pulisic however couldn’t get into the sport.
Mateo Kovacic – 6
His introduction allowed his aspect extra management within the recreation, and raised questions as to why he didn’t begin towards his former aspect. Will certainly be put in from the off within the return leg.
Romelu Lukaku – 3
Got here on as a second-half substitute and, in a recreation the place headers proved 0key, he headed the very best probability of the second half vast of the submit when it seemed more durable to overlook. He wants to begin firing, and quick.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 4
Did nothing to affect the sport.
Actual Madrid
Thibaut Courtois – 8
Made one improbable save with the rating at 3-1 to tip an Azpilicueta effort over the bar. Regardless of the hostile return, was calm and assured behind his defence.
Thibaut Courtois’s save from that César Azpilicueta strike 😮#UCL pic.twitter.com/uA6vOyaXz2
— Soccer on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 6, 2022
Dani Carvajal – 7
Motored up and down the appropriate flank, whereas additionally conserving the Chelsea forwards quiet. Might nicely have had a objective for his efforts save a goalline clearance within the first half.
Eder Militao – 6
Booked early within the piece and dominated himself out of the second leg.
David Alaba – 8
An oasis of calm amid a tempestuous affair, Alaba continues to show that filling the sneakers of Sergio Ramos is not any activity too giant for him.
Ferland Mendy – 6
Quietly efficient, and his efficiency absolutely ranks as one among his finest in a white shirt since he joined 18 months in the past.
Toni Kroos – 7
Continued to defy logic as he shone on the best stage even at 32 years previous. Light because the piece went on and was changed however actually did his job.
Luca Modric – 8
One other of the previous guard that continues to excel, Modric dictated play for Los Blancos although, like Kroos, pale within the second half as Chelsea had extra of the ball.
Casemiro – 7
Confirmed his expertise by dropping into defence in an important moments as Los Blancos got here below elevated strain. One other quiet however good efficiency from the Brazilian.
Federico Valverde – 8
Was most well-liked to Lucas Vazquez and totally justified his place. Ran with the ball nicely and supplied a great foil with Caravajal towards first Pulisic after which Ziyech.
Karim Benzema- 10
Europe’s most deadly marksman continued to indicate his brilliance with an excellent header for the opener, following it up with an equally supreme second simply moments later. The objective to finish his hat-trick could have been streaky, nevertheless it was actually deserved.
Vinicius Junior – 8
Hit the woodwork within the opening 10 minutes and can really feel he ought to have carried out higher. Offered a fantastic cross for the opening objective and terrorised Andreas Christensen within the first half. Noticed much less of the ball within the second however remained a relentless menace together with his tempo.
Subs:
Nacho Fernandez – 5
Got here on for the injured Militao simply as Chelsea started to threaten, and did little to stem the tide. Strong if unspectacular.
Eduardo Camavinga – 6
Had massive sneakers to fil when he entered the fray, and did his job nicely with out being a standout performer.
Dani Ceballos- N/A
Got here on with 5 minutes to go, and did nothing of observe.
Gareth Bale – N/A
Got here on with 5 minutes to go, and did nothing of observe.
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Premier League desk
| # | Staff | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester Metropolis | 30 | 52 | 73 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 30 | 57 | 72 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 29 | 35 | 59 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 30 | 15 | 54 |
| 5 | Arsenal FC | 29 | 10 | 54 |
| 6 | West Ham United | 31 | 11 | 51 |
| 7 | Manchester United | 30 | 8 | 51 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 31 | 6 | 49 |
| 9 | Crystal Palace | 30 | 4 | 37 |
| 10 | Leicester Metropolis | 28 | -4 | 37 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 30 | 0 | 36 |
| 12 | Southampton FC | 30 | -9 | 36 |
| 13 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 30 | -10 | 34 |
| 14 | Brentford FC | 31 | -11 | 33 |
| 15 | Newcastle United | 30 | -21 | 31 |
| 16 | Leeds United | 31 | -33 | 30 |
| 17 | Everton FC | 28 | -19 | 25 |
| 18 | Watford FC | 30 | -28 | 22 |
| 19 | Burnley FC | 28 | -18 | 21 |
| 20 | Norwich Metropolis | 30 | -45 | 18 |
| Participant | Staff | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 20 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 14 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 14 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 12 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 12 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 11 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester Metropolis | 10 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester Metropolis | 10 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester Metropolis | 10 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester Metropolis | 10 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace | 10 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 9 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 9 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 9 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 9 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 8 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 8 |
| Participant | Staff | Pink Playing cards | Yellow Playing cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 9 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 9 |
| Brownhill, Josh | Burnley FC | 0 | 9 |
| Mctominay, Scott | Manchester United | 0 | 9 |
| Firpo, Junior | Leeds United | 0 | 9 |
| Salisu, Mohammed | Southampton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 7 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 8 |
| Moreno, Rodrigo | Leeds United | 0 | 8 |
| Money, Matty | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 8 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United | 0 | 8 |
| Romeu, Oriol | Southampton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Xhaka, Granit | Arsenal FC | 1 | 7 |
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United | 0 | 7 |
| Romero, Cristian | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 8 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 8 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 7 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 6 |
| Participant | Staff | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 11 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 9 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 8 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 7 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 7 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester Metropolis | 7 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester Metropolis | 7 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 6 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 6 |
| Benrahma, Stated | West Ham United | 6 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Mbeumo, Bryan | Brentford FC | 6 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester Metropolis | 6 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 5 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 5 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 5 |