Chelsea’s miserable season has got worse after a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid on Thursday (AEST) put them on the brink of Champions League elimination.
Sitting an unfamiliar 11th in the Premier League, the Champions League offered the glamour London club a chance of redemption – and silverware.
But defending champions Madrid were as ruthless as ever at the Bernabeu as goals to Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio either side of halftime put them in complete control of the quarter final tie which will resume at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Watch Erling Haaland, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric in the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League, streaming ad free, live and exclusive on Stan Sport
Chilwell red adds to Chelsea woes
“There used to be a snarl about Chelsea, they’ve been a bit nicey nicey this season,” commentator Martin Tyler said on Stan Sport’s coverage.
“It’s unusual to see such a big gap in class,” Alan Smith added.
Chelsea are being managed by club legend Frank Lampard on a caretaker basis after Graham Potter was sacked just six months in to a chaotic campaign.
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Adding to Chelsea’s woes, defender Ben Chilwell was sent off with half an hour to play in the second half.
“I don’t see them with any chance,” former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich said on Stan Sport.
Benzema’s 21st minute strike was the Frenchman’s sixth goal in five matches against Chelsea.
Benzema opened the scoring by hitting the open net off the rebound of a save by Kepa Arrizabalaga after an attempt by Vinicius Jr from close range.
Benzema scored four times against Chelsea last season, including the decisive goal in extra time in the second leg in Madrid.
He had a hat trick in the first leg in London.
Asencio netted the second in the 74th minute after another assist by Vinicius.
“We played very well. It was one of our best matches of the season,” the Brazilian star said.
“It’s great to win at home like this, but there is still a lot left and we need to win the second game. We will have to come out strong there as well.”
Lampard began his new stint with Chelsea with a 1-0 loss at relegation-threatened Wolverhampton in the Premier League at the weekend.
The former midfield great also coached the team from 2019-21.
Chelsea’s winless run extended to five games and they have won only two of their last 11 matches in the Premier League.
The match remained mostly even until Madrid broke the deadlock with Benzema’s tap in.
Chelsea nearly equalised a minute later when Raheem Sterling’s close range shot was stopped by a brilliant reflex save by Thibaut Courtois.
Chelsea’s chances were reduced after Chilwell pulled Rodrygo from behind and was sent off.
In the all-Italian quarter final, Milan hold a 1-0 advantage over Napoli after Ismael Bennacer’s second half goal.
Napoli also finished the first leg with 10 men after Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was sent off 16 minutes from time, following two yellow cards in quick succession.
It was Napoli’s first ever appearance in the quarter finals and they were without a recognised striker as leading Serie A goalscorer Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Simeone were out injured and manager Luciano Spalletti opted to start Giacomo Raspadori on the bench and play Eljif Elmas in the false nine position.
Nevertheless, the visitors got off to an aggressive start and had four clear cut opportunities in as many minutes.
The best of those was after only 50 seconds as Milan failed to deal with a cross and a horrible Rade Krunic clearance fell straight to Napoli dangerman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
But Krunic atoned for his error by clearing the shot off the line and Mario Rui ballooned the follow up over.
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Milan broke the deadlock five minutes from halftime as Brahim Diaz sped forward from midfield and laid the ball off to the right of the area to Rafael Leao.
His attempt at a one-two didn’t quite come off but it came through to Bennacer to fire into the top near corner.
Napoli’s chances of getting back into the match diminished when Anguissa was shown a second yellow card for a high tackle on Theo Hernandez four minutes after being booked for a foul on the same Milan defender. – with AP
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