Real Madrid took a good lead (2-0), but wasted the chance to seal the tie against a fairly defensive Chelsea who played the last half hour of the game with a man less due to the expulsion of Chilwell.
Carlo Ancelotti repeated the team that thrashed at the Camp Nou in the Cup, with Benzema, Vinícius and Rodrygo up front and a midfield managed by Kroos and Modric, with the German at 5, a position that he does not like very much but in the one who usually plays this season in big games in the absence of a center midfielder like Casemiro. Lampard came out with only two forwards, playing with Sterling and Joao Felix. His idea was very clear: to catch Madrid in a counter with balls behind the backs of the full-backs, especially from Camavinga, who was charged very quickly with a yellow card in a Sterling internship.
After a first opportunity for Joao Felix aborted by Courtois, Madrid took the pulse of the game very soon. He deployed with energy and nerve and looked for the returns to Chelsea on Vinícius's side. Rodrygo moved to the other side, but the young Brazilian, so decisive in the last Champions League, is not at his best right now.
The one who really led Chelsea's defense was Karim Benzema, who has been in Ballon d'Or mode for a couple of weeks. The French forward gave a course on how to stand out, to download the game to one side or the other, a constant danger for the opposing defense.
Nor did he miss his appointment with the goal. Madrid scored at 21, culminating a few minutes in which they had the English team locked up. The play began with an excellent pass from Carvajal to Vinícius, whose shot was slightly deflected by Kepa with the tips of his fingers. There was Benzema to crush.
Chelsea's reaction was instant. He went up with pride and Sterling finished off Courtois from point-blank range, who took the ball to a corner, one of those stops that wins games and of which the Belgian has already accumulated so many.
There wasn't much more from Chelsea in the first half, in which Madrid continued to dominate the game, but lacked a spark of mischief to get the second goal. He also had an excess of preciousness left over, wanting to give the most plastic pass before going the most practical way. All in all, he had a couple of quite clear chances to extend his lead, a strange shot from Camavinga and above all a one-on-one that Rodrygo missed against Kepa, a shot that was too soft.
The second part began with a very similar script. Madrid dominated but did not quite get the second goal. Modric almost scored at 50 with a thread that went a hair high, touching the squad.
Immediately Marc Cucurulla came on for Koulibaly, who limped off. And at 60 came another key play. The French referee sent off Chilwell with a straight red for grabbing Vinícius's side and being the last man. With one less Lampard opted for a double change and withdrew his two forwards: Joao Félix and Sterling for Havertz and Chalobah.
Ancelotti also reacted and removed Camavinga, with a card, to put in Rüdiger, and Rodrygo for Asensio. The entry of the Balearic could not be more effective. He has a cannon on his leg. His first shot, a ball that he caught near the edge of the area, was adjusted to the post and surpassed Kepa's stretch. Madrid protected the 2-0. It can be worth against a Chelsea with little goal. With this, he links four games without scoring. Madrid will have to get serious defensively in London.
