Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid summary: Benzema hat-trick, score, goals, highlights, Champions League quarterfinal first leg
Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid: as it happened
Benzema and Vinicius combine again
Karim Benzema has played a pivotal part in Vinicius' rise over the last couple of years and the Brazilian is paying the Frenchman back in assists.
Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid ran out 3-1 winners in what was their best performance of the season, beating the reigning European champions Chelsea.
Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick and had Madrid cruising with two goals inside the opening 24 minutes.
Vinicius was a constant threat on the left. Chelsea couldn't handle his speed or skill on the break as he set up his partner in crime Benzema to smash home the opening goal of the game, a header past Mendy.
Modric then curled a beautiful ball into Benzema, who leaned back to head across goal and double Madrid's lead.
Kai Havertz put Chelsea back into the tie with the third goal of the evening and third header of the game before the break.
Within a minute of the second half starting, Benzema had his hat-trick, pressing Rudiger who received a poor ball from Mendy, to rob the ball and pass it into the empty night for his second Champions League hat-trick in a row.
Chelsea had a couple of chances to get back into the game, including a header by Lukaku, that flew wide from six yards.
Madrid take an important lead back to the Spanish capital for next week's second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
FT: Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid
It's a huge win for Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge.
Madrid end up winning it back and it's with Modric so it couldn't be any safer.
Chelsea look to create one last chance...
Karim Benzema has been involved in 50 goals in one season for the first time in his career - 37 goals and 13 assists.
That's a bad head clash.
Nacho and Havertz collide. Quite nasty.
There will be five additional minutes played!
Real Madrid are using all their experience now to slow the game right down. Some in-game management by Ancelotti and his players.
Reece James curls a free kick from way out on the left straight into Courtois' hands. That will suit Madrid.
Double change for Real Madrid
OFF Benzema & Valverde
ON Bale & Ceballos
Reece James strikes low and hard. Courtois dives to his right to save well. When called upon, the Belgian has done his job tonight, despite all the boos from Chelsea fans.
Two Benzema hat-tricks
Benzema has scored 6 goals in 75 minutes of Champions League football.
Gareth Bale is warming up!
Chelsea look for a way through. They get it through a nice move by Havertz but his final product is lacking. Courtois catches the German's tame shot. Madrid have a 2-goal lead at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have had a couple of big chances, including an effort from Lukaku but Benzema's hat-trick is the difference between the sides.
Valverde wins the loose ball. What an engine the Uruguayan has. Ancelotti also got that call spot on. The Real Madrid fans are now applauding every pass.
Ancelotti has outfoxed Tuchel in Tuchel's back garden. Madrid have pressed well, exposed space in Chelsea's set-up and attacked with speed when possible.
Real Madrid change
OFF Kroos
ON Camavinga
Madrid's midfield are visibly tired. Ancelotti is about to bring Camavinga off the bench.
Stamford Bridge gets behind Chelsa as they look for their second of the night. Benzema's hat-trick feels like quite a while ago now!
Chelsea are really threatening now. The ball falls to Mount 25 yards from goal. The England international curls his first-time shot over Courtois' bar. 1-3
LUKAKU!
How does he miss that one? He's all alone in the 6-yard box but somehow heads it wide. It's his second chance in 60 seconds. He looks like the less-confident version of the Lukaku most of us are used to.
James opens his body up to curl a cross into Lukaku. The Belgian heads well wide of goal.
It's getting very physical now. Mendy pulls Havertz down. Modric pulls Azpilicueta down. Madrid still lead.
Real Madrid change
OFF Militao
ON Nacho
Chelsea changes
OFF Jorgingo & Pulisic
ON Loftus-Cheek & Lukaku
Chelsea are 3-1 down if you're just joining.
Benzema the first player ever to score a European hat-trick against Chelsea
Karim Benzema becomes the first player ever to score a European hat-trick against Chelsea. (Opta)
Pulisic takes a pot shot from just inside the box but it's not a clean strike. Courtois collects. Militao is down now after a challenge with Havertz. It looks like a knee collision.
The world watches on as Benzema shines
Benzema has been underrated for years now. Thomas Tuchel said it in his pre-match conference. Will he ever get the credit he deserves?
Lukaku is warming up for Chelsea. His second stint at Chelsea has gone as planned for either party. But Chelsea need goals.
Karim Benzema's hat-trick means the France international now has six goals in his last 75 minutes of Champions League football.
Chelsea were unable to handle him for the first two headers but Tuchel will be livid with how his side conceded the third goal tonight, a horrific mix-up between Mendy and Rudiger.
Chelsea were unbeaten in their last eight games against Spanish opposition, with their last defeat coming at Stamford Bridge under Frank Lampard as Valencia won 1-0.
Madrid have lost only one of their last eight Champions League games when facing the holders, while they have won each of the last three without conceding a goal.
Benzema looks to play Vinicius in down the left but Chelsea deal with it.
COURTOIS stops Azpilicueta with a spectacular save.
Benzema hat-trick
Benzema has his second Champions League hat-trick in a row.
Benzema scores two Champions League hat-tricks in a row
Benzema scores another Champions League hat-trick - two hat-tricks in a row. Absolutely phenomenal. He has 11 Champions League goals this season.
It's an absolute howler from Mendy, who tries to pass to Rudiger... Benzema robs it and scores into an empty net.
INCREDIBLE SCENES!!!
BENZEMA SCORES A HAT-TRICK!!!
And we're underway for the second half!
Kovacic and Ziyech are coming on for Chelsea.
Benzema and Vinicius link up again
The Madrid duo have been unstoppable this season, in Europa and in LaLiga.
Madrid lead at Stamford Bridge
A Benzema brace has Los Blancos in front at the break. Havertz pulled one back for Chelsea.
HT: Chelsea 1-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid have been very impressive so far and deserve their halftime lead. Benzema and Vinicius are enjoying themselves in the London rain.
There will be one additional minute.
Chelsea 1-2 Real Madrid
Chelsea are back in it.
Havertz heads past Courtois to make it 1-2.
HUGE chance for Benzema!
Vinicius crosses from the left. Jorginho slides to block it but the ball falls into the path of Benzema, who hits it wide. It's an easier chance than his two goals.
It's an excellent inswinging cross from Jorginho. Havertz makes a clever run and heads past Courtois. Three goals, three headers. Chelsea are back in it right before the break.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!
KAI HAVERTZ!!!
Thiago is free in the box but his header sails over. He'll be disappointed with that one.
Madrid have been excellent all over the pitch.
Carlo Ancelotti only showed up in London this morning after he tested negative for covid-19. The Italian was touch and go for a few days but he's here and he probably can't believe what happened in the opening 25 minutes.
Vinicius is that left wing option for Madrid every time. Chelsea, and James and Christensen in particular, can't handle his pace.
Christensen has an agreement in place to join Barcelona this summer so he'll be seeing plenty of Madrid over the coming years.
Mendy saves from Carvajal and Christensen clears. It's a half effort from the right-back but Madrid continue to threaten here.
James crosses from the right but it evades everyone. It's a goalkick for Thibaut Courtois.
Militao's header from a Kroos corner on the left is saved by Mendy.
Reigning Champions League champions Chelsea have a lot to do but we're only 28 minutes in.
Stat: Karim Benzema has scored 5 goals in his last 52 minutes of Champions League football for Real Madrid.
Chelsea 0-2 Real Madrid
TWO Real Madrid goals, TWO Karim Benzema headers.
Fantastic start from Los Blancos in London.
BENZEMA HAS A BRACE!
Modric sends in a curling cross. Benzema leans back to head past Mendy for the second time in two minutes.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!
BENZEMA MAKES IT 2-0!!!
Benzema makes it 1-0
Vinicius crosses, Benzema finishes. We've heard that before.
It's an unbelievable finish by Benzema. He plays a one-two with Vinicius, who crosses for Benzema to smash a header past Mendy.
The pair link up once again!
What a header!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!
BENZEMA
Mount!
Rudiger crosses a high ball from the left. Mount climbs highest to head but Courtois collects comfortably. Courtois is getting booed every time he touches the ball. I think he expected it too.
This time Rudiger goes down in pain after clashing with Valverde.
It appears to be a rib problem. Some spray should sort him out. He only got booked two minutes ago too.
Eder Militao has gone down and is asking for treatment.
Courtois pushes James' curling free-kick away. The Belgian shotstopper had it well covered.
Militao fails to control it and then takes Havertz down. He will miss the second leg at the Bernabéu. Ancelotti is understandably furious.
Mount makes his 150th appearance
Mason Mount makes his 150th appearance for the Blues tonight.
It's absolutely lashing down in London.
Benzema backheels it to Valverde, who picks out Vinicius on the left. The Brazilian cuts inside onto his favoured right foot and his rising shot crashes off the bar. What a chance!
VINICIUS SMASHES THE BAR!
There were doubts about whether fans would be allowed in tonight. I can confirm that it is indeed a packed house at Stamford Bridge. You need the fans for these huge Champions League nights.
Christensen takes out Vinicius from behind. Madrid have a free-kick. 30 seconds later, Kroos is fouled by Kanté. It has been lively!
Kroos will be busy tonight, he is the Madrid midfielder who has been nearest to Kanté so far.
Havertz!
Kanté plays a beautiful ball into the half space for Havertz, who goes for the double stepover before sending his left-footed effort over the bar.
Vinicius shows his quality with a lobbed pass to Mendy.
Thibaut Courtois is loudly booed as he receives it. He left Chelsea for Madrid in 2018.
Real Madrid are wearing their famous white shirt and shorts, but blue socks.
Mount crosses after 25 seconds but it flies across the box and Chelsea are unable to capitalise on it.
We're underway!
Chelsea are playing from left to right as we watch it.
Stamford Bridge is rocking!
And now for the Champions League anthem...
Here come the teams!
This should be a fascinating game in London. Both sides are blessed with youth, talent and experience.
Chelsea will be looking to bounce back after Saturday's defeat to Brentford. Madrid beat Celta 2-1 in LaLiga and have a strong side out tonight.
AS prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Real Madrid
Kick off is coming up very shortly!
It has been reported that Juventus are watching Pulisic closely, but on Tuesday the United States international decided to respond to this rumor.
“We’ve done some great things while I’ve been here. I’m enjoying my football. I’m not worried about that (a transfer) right now,” said Pulisic during a press conference held at Stamford Bridge prior to facing Real Madrid in the first leg of the quarter-final in the UEFA Champions League.
Havertz shortlisted for Player of the Month award
The German forward has been in exceptional form for Chelsea.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel gave his thoughts on his team’s quarter-final game against Real Madrid.
The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge
“We need our fans. The fans are an important component and the energy that they transmit is crucial.”
Last season’s meeting between Chelsea and Madrid
“I haven’t seen last season’s game. We beat Madrid last season but it has nothing to do with this game.”
Which Real Madrid player would you like to sign?
“I would like to sign Benzema. He was one of the most underrated players in recent years, but what he has done in this latest spell and the responsibility he has taken on has been exceptional.”
Luka's stage
Modric is always in the mood!
Stamford Bridge awaits
Chelsea, sitting third in the Premier League, go into the match after seeing their six-game unbeaten run in all competitions come to an end with their heavy defeat at home to Brentford on Saturday (1-4).
Chelsea and Real Madrid meet again
Tonight is the second consecutive season in which Chelsea and Real Madrid have met in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The Premier League side could become the first English team to eliminate Madrid from the knockout stages of the competition on multiple occasions.
London calling
Real Madrid players arrive at Stamford Bridge ahead of kick off.
Ancelotti returns to dugout
Real Madrid will be boosted by the presence of head coach Carlo Ancelotti against Chelsea this evening following his recovery from coronavirus.
Ancelotti contracted Covid-19 last week and was absent for Madrid’s 2-1 win at Celta Vigo at the weekend.
But a Madrid statement on the morning of the game announced Ancelotti was travelling to London to join his squad following a negative test result.
“Real Madrid C.F. is pleased to announce that our coach Carlo Ancelotti has returned a negative result for Covid-19,” the statement read.
The stage is set
Kick-off is in less than an hour away at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea XI vs Real Madrid
Thomas Tuchel has named his side for tonight's game at Stamford Bridge.
César Azpilicueta captains the side. Christian Pulisic starts in attack.
Chelsea vs Real Madrid approaches
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last eight games against Spanish opposition, with their last defeat coming at Stamford Bridge under Frank Lampard as Valencia won 1-0.
Chelsea vs Real Madrid
SofaScore have put together some stats on both teams in this season's Champions League.
Chelsea are averaging 62.5% possession in their 8 games.
Real Madrid have kept 4 clean sheet.
Tuchel: "Stamford Bridge can produce an amazing atmosphere"
Thomas Tuchel has spoken pre-match about the important of the fans at Stamford Bridge at tonight's quarter-final showdown.
Ancelotti names starting XI
Real Madrid XI: Courtois – Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy – Casemiro, Kroos, Modric – Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius.
Dani Carvajal and Fede Valverde come into the side.
Chelsea will need to forget about last weekend’s game 4-1 defeat at home to Brentford if they want to get a good result against the Spanish giants.
Last season the English side managed to beat Los Blancos, winning 3-1 over two legs.
Stamford Bridge could also play a role tonight, as Chelsea have won each of their last five home games in the Champions League with five clean sheets to boot.
Chelsea vs Real Madrid: live!
Hello and welcome to AS USA's live coverage of this Champions League quarter-final between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge.
Kick off is at 9pm CEST, 3pm ET & 12pm PT