Real Madrid - Chelsea: summary: score, goals, highlights, Champions League
Real Madrid 2 (5) - (4) 3 Chelsea: how it happened
Match headlines:
- Real Madrid win 5-4 on aggregate and into semi-final
- 96' | Benzema heads home to put Madrid in front in the tie
- Into extra-time
- 78' | Rodrygo gets one back for Madrid, after sumptuous pass from Modric
- 75' | Werner tucks home to put Chelsea in driving seat
- 66' | Benzema heads onto crossbar
- 61' | Alonso goal ruled out by VAR for handball
- 51' | Rudiger levels up the tie at 3-3 on aggregate
- 15' | Mount gives Chelsea the lead on the night
- Real Madrid kick off with a 3-1 lead from the first leg
Atlético Madrid play Manchester City for the right to play Real Madrid
There is yet more Champions League quarterfinal second leg action in the Spanish capital tonight, as Atleti host City.
The English side come into the match with a 1-0 lead from the first leg at the Etihad, you can follow every kick of the ball with Paul Reidy, who is already spinning the decks.
Alfredo Relaño's take on tonight's heart-stopping match, with his argument that what Real Madrid really like is being in a tough spot and getting out of. Like going 0-3 down on the night and facing elimination having started the match sitting pretty with a two goal cushion.
Modric ready for the next match
Man of the match, or most valuable player, Modric with a cheery message for the Madrid fans. Their next game is against Sevilla on Sunday at 3pm ET, 9pm local.
Real Madrid celebrations
This tweet seems to sum up the feelings in the Spanish capital - at least the madridista side of it.
And with that I will say goodnight. Thank you for joining our live Champions League coverage, not one we'll forget easily, and we'll be back very soon (in just a few hours actually) with more action.
Tuchel reflects on being knocked out
The Chelsea boss spoke after the game, clearly believing like most who watched that sometimes football doesn't go the way of the better team.
"We were unlucky. We were beaten by pure individual quality, of conversion, on our mistakes.
"Two mistakes. That you can't have against Real Madrid. We were unlucky. We deserved to go through."
The German was also asked about the referee.
"I like Carlo Ancelotti, he is a very nice man. When I went to go and shake his hand, I saw the referee smiling and laughing and with the opposition coach.
"This is a very bad time to do this, and I told him this."
Spanish football had a good UCL night
Both Real Madrid and Villarreal had dramatic nights and now both finding themselves sitting back and watching who they will meet in the semi-final.
For Madrid it's either a clash with neighbours Atlético or a renewed rivalry with Pep Guardiola. The Yellow Submarine on the other hand have a double date with either Liverpool or Benfica.
Modric says it's hard to describe the emotions after the 120 minutes of this game. "We showed a lot of character and this is a victory from the whole team," says the Croatian.
How long will he playing for? Modric laughs and says he'll take it year by year and keep going as long as he can.
City or Atleti in the next round? Modric says the important thing is to be in the semifinals, and if you want to win the title you have to be able to beat all the teams...
Talking about Modric
Real Madrid would like to talk about Modric, which is absolutely fair enough, and he was man of the match, but the photo that should be on that tweet should be the outside of the boot pass to Rodrygo, which saved Real Madrid's skins with the Brazilian slamming home from the ball over the top. Madrid were going out at that point and seemed incapable of finding a spark of inspiration... but there it was, on the exterior of Modric's right foot.
Nacho asked if he'd prefer Atlético Madrid or Manchester City. "I don't care. We've done our job."
Football, bloody hell!
That was utterly crazy! Chelsea were on top for much of the game, especially in the 90, but were not carving out too many clear opportunities.
That said, they scored three and looked to have turned their poor first leg result on its head. Then Madrid remembered what competition they were in.
Another semi-final beckons for the 13-time champion of Europe, and although there are still several question marks against some of this side, what happened tonight means they will not be taken lightly by either Manchester City nor Atlético Madrid, one of whom they will clash against in the two-legged semi.
What a game we've witnessed tonight.
Agg. 5-4
Goals | Rodrygo 79', Benzema 95'; Mount 14', Rüdiger 50', Werner 74'
Peep, peep, peeeeep!!! The full-time whistle blows and Real Madrid have, somehow, made it.
Chelsea are building, the whistles are loud around the Bernabéu, pleading for the game to be ended.
Alonso decides to throw it into the mixer and it's way, way too long. Courtois catches with ease and slowly collapses to the ground to take up a few more seconds.
Three minutes to be added!
Mendy (the Chelsea keeper) is up for this late corner, to add to the physical advantage the English side has had throughout.
Camavinga does brilliantly to beat him to the cross but as the ball is fired back in it falls for Jorginho who must slot home...he pulls it wide and teammates throw their hands on their heads.
Was that the last chance?
Alonso does well to win a corner under pressure from two players and what follows must have even had Ancelotti's heart skip a beat.
First Madrid taking an age to clear their lines from right in front of Courtois. Then a free header for Havertz which should have been the leveller but instead was just misdirected.
Edge of seats stuff here. Great for the neutral, horrible for the fans.
Five minutes to go and Courtois has done what Courtois does. Made a huge save!
Actually, given what has happened tonight, maybe the goalkeepers shouldn't get too much credit...but that was a good block at his near post.
Chelsea are clearly in a rush to keep this game going and are pressing forward at every opportunity. But Madrid look dangerous on the break, especially with Rodrygo wide on the right trying to collect whenever possible.
Valverde has really stepped up in the last 30 minutes and is showing his strength and energy, despite the minutes gone.
What on earth!? Courtois, again, takes his time under pressure and instead of clearing does his version of a Cruyff turn to evade him...and does so as successfully as the Dutch master used to.
Havertz won't fall for that again!
Courtois was rather casual dealing with a pass back there and Havertz almost got close enough to make the block.
Given blood pressure of the Madrid faithful is already pretty high, that's not the best choice from the big Belgian. That said, there's a 62-year old Italian near the home dugout looking as calm as could be.
OK, we're back underway. 15 minutes can be a long time in games like these...
The home fans are in great voice, belting out their anthem which ends, "Madrid, y nada más", "Madrid and nothing else."
That's the first period of extra-time done. Another 15 to go...
Benzema brings the ball away from the midfield as he so often does and as he awaits the predictable challenge, lays off to Camavinga who decides it's worth a hit from around 25 yards.
Decent strike from the young midfielder but Mendy happy to watch it fly over.
Some teams, and fans, can get nervous in situations like this but there is something about Real Madrid which makes them play like this was all part of their plan.
It's a swagger, one that they certainly have not had all of this season, but one that occasionally comes into focus, often in a certain European competition that they rather enjoy winning.
Boring, boring football
But which one? This is certainly a game for our high-score loving American friends.
GOAL!! Benzema heads home!
Who else? Brilliant play from Vini on the left who dinks an inviting chip into the path of the striker who always manages to find space.
Reece James strides forward towards the home penalty area, just towards the right corner and as his supporting runners take away the cover, he decides to have a go. Why not given what we've seen here.
His effort swerves plenty but it's well off target.
There's a renewed spring in the Madrid step and the crowd are helping. Impossible to call where this is ending though.
Extra-time begins with Madrid kicking off again.
Villarreal into semi as Bayern overcome
Meanwhile...
You read it right! The Yellow Submarine have knocked out the Bavarian giants and will await either Liverpool or Benfica in the semi-final. What a result!
Peeep!! Our Polish whistler brings the 180 minutes to an end.
Extra-time is coming...
Pulisic again!! An almost identical situation on the other side of the goal. The USMNT star stretching to volley in at close range but going over.
He knows he had two glorious chances to be the hero.
Oooohhh!! So close from that dead ball, Pulisic latching onto the knock on and volleying over Courtois' goal. What a chance for the American!!
Madrid almost mess it all up in the middle and Camavinga commits a foul to halt the break into open space.
He'll get a yellow but the free-kick is the issue.
There will be four additional minutes.
A corner is not what you want to give away in these final moments but Madrid have gifted their opponents two in quick succession.
Fortunately for the LaLiga side they emerged unscathed.
Both sides seem keen to get this game over before extra-time but no great chance has yet presented itself. It's getting nervy.
Modric love
Social media has lit up with praise for that Modric assist. It's almost like people haven't been watching him do that for the last decade.
GOAL!!! Rodrygo has levelled it up!
An interception in midfield, an utterly delicious outside-of-the-foot pass from Modric, and a first-time volley home from the Brazilian.
It's 4-4 on aggregate!
Vini is slapping the turf in frustration after he breaks away on a dangerous break but is penalised for grabbing Azpilicueta's shirt as they tussled. Right call, but he didn't have to do it. He's rather quick.
GOAL!! Werner puts Chelsea ahead
This one counts. Timo does brilliantly to time his run down the inside left channel, then cuts back, shimmies again to make space, and fires low.
Courtois has closed him down but can only part block it and the ball finds the empty corner.
With less than 20 minutes to go, a reminder that it's all square at 3-3 on aggregate. Away goals don't count for anything extra - read more about that here - so as it stands we're heading to extra time.
I've got a funny feeling the scoring ain't over just yet.
Benzema hits crossbar!
What a few minutes we've had here. The ball in from the left drifts over the covering defenders as the Frenchman pulls away from his marker and there was only one idea in his mind.
As he redirected the header, he was aiming for the far corner, and put just too much on it.
NO GOAL!! As you were... it did indeed touch the Spaniard's hand when it deflected back into his path.
Hold on! VAR checking for a handball....
GOAL!!! Marcus Alonso finishes with aplomb after he got a lucky block back into his body. It all comes from a mess up from Madrid's Mendy in the middle of the park.
More imposing from Madrid, threatening Mendy's goal again.
Much better here from the hosts. A flowing move through the centre is slid out to Mendy on the left who knocks a tempting first-time pass across the six-yard line. Out of reach of both goalkeeper and strikers, but only just.
That was the type of play to get the slowly quietening Bernabéu back in the noisy groove.
So, as is often the case in situations like this, Madrid head straight up the other end, win a free-kick and Kroos stings the fingers of a flying Mendy from the dead ball.
Chelsea then get back on the ball and appear keen to try and finish this off in the 90, or should I say 180.
GOAL!! Rudiger levels up the tie.
From that corner - I'll review the disputed deflection as soon as possible - the big defender rises and heads home past Courtois helpless dive. He's totally unmarked with attention taken by other yellow shirts.
Chelsea back on the front foot in these opening stages and Reece James has a decent effort deflected wide for a corner. Madrid players adamant that it didn't take a touch but the ref not listening to their cries.
What a start! Madrid burst forward through the middle of the park and then, just as it looks as thought they have the extra man Benzema passes poorly and Chelsea break.
A Havertz overlap allows a low cross in towards Courtois and one of the numerous white-socked defenders clears.
Peep! We're back underway
Players are starting to head back out. Let's see if there are changes...
Madridistas will be mindful of a recent example where things didn’t go as planned after a good first leg.
In 2019 against Ajax, after winning in Amsterdam (1-2), the Ajax youngsters shook off their fears and thrashed Los Blancos (1-4) at the Santiago Bernabeu. Out.
Half-time musings
We reach half-time and if I'm honest I'm no less sure of how this tie is going to end.
Madrid were quick out of their home blocks, and suggested they still had somewhat of the UCL swagger that we've seen before, especially some of the link-up play between Benzema and Vinicius. But that soon changed.
Chelsea have not only won that half with the goal from Mount, a lovely strike from just inside the area as if bounced across him, but they have been the more dominant. Some may argue that Los Blancos have the luxury of sitting back, given how the first leg went, but it doesn't feel as though that is what they are choosing to do. They are being forced into that pose.
But for all the reigning champions have controlled much of that 45 minutes, they have not been banging down Courtois' goal. A couple of half chances have come their way but not much more.
And it is for all of that, a general lack of threat from either side, although from different styles, that I can't decide who'll make the next key move.
If my money was on it, I'd suggest that the hosts will step it up in the second half, and will score the one goal that should be enough. But...I've lost more money than I've won.
Peep! The whistle blows and the players head into the dressing room for some orange pieces and a few wise words from their respective manager.
We're heading into a single minute of additional time with both sides looking to keep things as secure as possible.
Mount likes a knockout
He's a talent, that's not in doubt, but he's not a prolific goalscorer for the Blues. He does appear to enjoy this stage of the Champions League though.
Better from Los Blancos in the last couple of minutes. A period, if not particularly long, of sustained pressure for the Chelsea defence to deal with.
Vini, Benzema, Kroos, Modric and others all in and around the box looking for an opening and almost getting one. Those Londoners are well drilled though and bring the ball away without much alarm raised.
Nacho brought down as he steps out of his own penalty area hands Madrid a useful breather but the defender is a lucky, lucky boy.
Just before getting the chance to escape, his poorly controlled clearance was almost gifted to Werner about 12 yards from Courtois in goal.
Just as I say that the visitors are being patient, Rudiger decides to change things up. Picking it up around 35 yards from goal he lets rip and has Courtois keeping a very close eye on it till it passes by the outside of the right post.
There's been a bit of back and forth for the last few minutes with lots of very tight defending at both ends. When the intricate play fails, Madrid appear quicker to pull the trigger from distance, Chelsea choosing instead to pass it out and await an opening.
This is set up perfectly, so intriguing.
Benzema targeting history
Benzema grabbed his second hat-trick in a row in the Champions League in the first leg against Chelsea, having previously stunned PSG with three goals to stun Messi & Co and end their petrol-dollar fuelled hunt for the Champions League title for another year.
With that second hat-trick Benzema joined a group of just four players to have scored consecutive hat-tricks, and if he can grab another triple tonight he’ll become the only player to have scored three hat-tricks in a row in the competition.
The other players to have notched consecutive hat-tricks:
- Luiz Adriano 2014/15: both against Bate Borisov, in the group stages.
- Lionel Messi 2016/17: Also in the group stages, with the first coming against Celtic, in a 7-0 tonking, and then Man City in a 4-0 thrashing. He did miss a game against Borussia Monchengladbach between the two.
- Cristiano Ronaldo 2016/2017: The first player to score consecutive hat-tricks in the knock-out stages, battering three past Bayern Munich in the quarterfinal, then Atlético Madrid in the semifinal.
Close from Benzema, who just oozes confidence. Vini had attempted to skin his marker and the French striker collected the deflected tackle before letting fly with his left from outside the area.
Mendy was throwing himself in the direction of the strike but a yellow columned head flicked the ball over the bar.
Just as Chelsea seem more relaxed with the situation here so too have Madrid dialled back the swashbuckling start they had. The crowd, known to be easily fickle, need to stay with their players, even if they were to lose another.
Madrid have responded pretty well since that setback - remember that they still go through 3-2 on aggregate as things stand - but there is a new sense of calm with the play from Chelsea.
Ancelotti will know that he has a wealth of experience in his playing ranks, and they're unlikely to get flustered.
Lineker likes
Former Barça player Gary Lineker is straight in with a customary pun.
What will he do if Nacho scores? Will it be against his potato snack contract?
GOAL!! Mason Mount puts Chelsea ahead on the night
Just as I was explaining how little the visitors have done, up pops the Englishman with a lovely instinctive strike, almost out of nothing.
Rudiger is the first Blue to threaten the Madrid goal and it's only a tame header over the bar. More needed from the reigning champs.
In case you were wondering about my earlier hat-trick post, I've had my minions confirm it for me and Karim would indeed be making history if he was to knock in three tonight. Surely he won't.
Benzema gets a chance from a free-kick on the edge of the Chelsea area.
His effort is just over the bar and he'll be annoyed not to have done better. The number of times that distance is practiced at Madrid's training complex is ridiculous. Muscle memory should have tested Mendy.
Benzema - remember he's looking for a third consecutive hat-trick - and Vini have settled really quickly. A cheeky backheel from the Frenchman has his Brazilian teammate scampering down the left and then attempting to jink his way into a crossing position.
Chelsea do well to clear and Werner then gets a chance to show his acceleration, before Nacho sorts him out.
Modric was at his masterly best in London last week and almost sent Vinicius free down the middle. Fan volume rose, Mendy strode out and cleared with a couple of metres to spare.
Decent opening from the hosts.
Valverde almost sent away down the right wing and the noise of the crowd made it sound a lot more promising than it really was. Still, if the stadium remains loud then it suggests things are going Madrid's way.
Chelsea, playing all in yellow, clearly hoping to get on top early and quieten this home crowd. Every commentator I've heard in the last couple of days has talked about that 'all important early goal' but I'm not convinced. There is a lot of time to get the two, or three, required.
First couple of minutes sees both teams just ease the ball around.
Peeeep! We are off.
Lights on at the Bernabéu
The stands are filled. The Champions League anthem is belted out. The tifos take pride of place over the unfortunate few who will have to wait a few minutes to see what's going on...
The floodlights are bright and it's almost time.
Players in the tunnel
With all the excitement of the build-up chat, I almost forgot how close the game was. The two sets of players are in the tunnel and about to make their way onto the field.
What the boss said: Tuchel
Chelsea's Thomas Tuchel had his say ahead of the game.
‘It is one of the biggest challenges to perform as the away team at the Bernabeu,’ said Tuchel. ‘It is even more difficult if you have to earn a certain result, if you need to win with a minimum of two goals, or maybe even a three-goal goal difference. That makes it almost impossible and very difficult.
The task is incredibly hard and the challenge is incredibly high given the circumstances of the first leg and where we play and against who we play and at what stage we play this kind of match.’
‘But still it’s worth trying and it’s still a stage where you can also over perform. We need to over perform. It’s not easy, it’s the opposite, but at the same time it’s a big experience to learn from and maybe an experience to take and over perform.’
What the boss said: Ancelotti
Real Madrid's Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti gave his thoughts ahead of the clash in the Spanish capital.
On Real Madrid vs Chelsea
“It’s quite normal that everyone knows it’s going to be a difficult game. Everyone, the team and the fans. It’s the quarter-finals of the Champions League, they’re always difficult games, despite what happened in the first leg. We have to play a complete game, know how to suffer, fight, compete, be in the game for 90 minutes. We have to think about playing the same game as we did in London, and we are expecting an opponent who will do their best to win the tie.”
On Chelsea
“We have a lot of respect for Chelsea. They have a lot of quality and very good players. We have to think that Chelsea will play better. I’m happy to be in the quarter-finals, but we know we will have to suffer and we are ready to suffer.”
On Chelsea playing a physical game
“We’ll see what the line-up is. I think we’d like to play the same game, but we have to think that Chelsea might change theirs because it didn’t work out well for them. We have to be ready for everyone, that’s what we’re thinking. Maybe we have to play differently.”
Winning the Champions League
“The Champions League is a very tough competition and reaching the final is very difficult. I said it at the beginning of the season because I know the team well: the quality we need is here. It’s not just physical or tactical, it’s the personality they have. This team can compete.”
The message to the dressing room ahead of the game
“I’m lucky because this squad knows these games well and what can happen. ”The mood is that of a happy squad, it’s an opportunity to reach a Champions League semi-final.”
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Talking of whistlers, Szymon Marciniak is our Champions League quarter-final match referee tonight at the Santiago Bernabéu. The Polish official will referee a Real Madrid UCL match for the fifth time.
Marciniak is one of Poland’s most highly-respected match officials. The last time he took charge of a game involving Los Blancos was in the group stage of the competition earlier this season, when Madrid beat Sheriff Tiraspol 3-0 away from home.
Find out more, if knowing the ref is your thing, by clicking on the picture above.
Welcome to the Bernabéu
The Chelsea players have been out for a little round around and despite the stadium being nowhere close to full, they were greeted with a decent volume of whistles and boos.
If you've not been to the Bernabéu, it's normal for the nearby bars and cafés to be full of excited/nervous home fans right up until pretty near kick-off.
The fight of the English
I really don't want to say 'typical' but, really, I don't know anyone who wasn't expecting some trouble in the Spanish capital with Chelsea and Man City fans overlapping trips (City play Atlético here tomorrow).
“It’s what happens when you have English fans and excess alcohol,” noted a local reporter, confirming a deeply-held prejudice in Spain that fans from England have a tendency to bring heavy drinking and the possibility of physical violence when travelling with their teams.
Our David brings you more on what has happened between the fans.
The plight of the English
I mentioned earlier that Real Madrid had never lost by more than one goal at home to an English side, something that bodes well given their two-goal advantage going into tonight's game.
Just to be clear, that record pans 65 years, with 22 official European matches having been played.
Ahead of this match, Alfredo Relaño wrote about how he believes that Real Madrid have become so used to bouncing back after losing the first leg that protecting a lead feels strange.
"It wasn’t that long ago when Madrid was on the cusp of being eliminated by Juventus at the quarter final stage. They had won 0-3 in Turin but found themselves 0-3 down at the Bernabéu and only made it through, agonisingly, after a penalty was awarded for a foul on Lucas Vázquez late into stoppage time.
"And that is not the only example of a result from the first leg being turned on its head in the return leg, but probably one of the most breathtaking in showing how overconfidence can prove fatal."
Click on the image above and read the rest of Relaño's musings. You've still got over half an hour till kick-off.
Madrid-Chelsea UCL compared
As you can see in this tidy graphic courtesy of our friends at sofascore, there's not a huge amount to split them. The most notable area that may come into play here is the amount of possession each side has.
Starting XI: Chelsea
Mendy, James, Rudiger, Silva, Alonso, Kante, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Werner, Mount, Havertz.
After a six-nil hammering of Southampton at the weekend in the Premier League, some had suggested that two-goal Werner could find himself in the starting line-up tonight. And look what has indeed happened. Havertz was given a bit of a rest in that game and will be expected to provide a serious threat.
Starting XI: Real Madrid
Courtois; Carvajal, Alaba, Nacho, Mendy; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Valverde; Vinicius Jr., Benzema.
Pretty much as expected for the home side. The experienced middle three supported with some young legs around them. More than likely, the first and final names on that list will prove crucial.
Team news incoming...
Right, it's almost time for the team news. Will there be any surprises? Will mind games begin from the opposing managers as they attempt to gain an advantage before kick-off? Let's see...
Did you know that no English team has ever won at the Santiago Bernabéu in the Champions League by more than a single goal?
Not great news for Chelsea fans but they can be comforted in the knowledge that these two sets of players have never met here. So, who cares about previous teams, eh?
More facts and stuff to ignore in this video that our Jen created.
Inside the Madrid dressing room
Look at this! Not only do the players have their shirts folded over to show them their names, they also have a big photo of themselves above it.
They is almost no way that these professional footballers are going to put on the wrong gear.
Real Madrid returned to training on Monday after beating Getafe on Saturday night as they prepare for their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Chelsea.
Real Madrid team news
Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga played in midfield alongside Casemiro in the 2-0 win over Getafe. Luka Modric and Toni Kroos were rested as Carlo Ancelotti had one eye on the second leg against Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Modric and Kroos will almost certainly return to the starting line-up on Tuesday, as will Dani Carvajal, who was also rested on Saturday. Lucas Vázquez replaced Carvajal and scored Los Blancon’s second goal of the night. Ferland Mendy, who did not train with the rest of his teammates on Thursday or Friday, will also be available at left-back after being left out at the weekend.
The French full-back trained with the squad on Monday morning. Ancelotti explained at his press conference on Friday that the France international was not injured, but fatigued. He missed El Clásico against Barcelona as he had muscular discomfort in his abductor, which he picked up in the game against Mallorca. Mendy played 90 minutes away to Celta Vigo and against Chelsea in the 3-1 win.
Champions League quarters
As well as our game here in Madrid, there's another Spanish team catching the eye across in Germany.
Can Villarreal really knock out the mighty Bayern? They're starting with a one-goal advantage.
Although I'm hopeful you'll keep at least a window open with my commentary, there are other ways to enjoy tonight's massive game.
My colleague Kieran pulled together this handy little guide to help you out. The things we do for you.
Real Madrid vs Chelsea live: welcome
Hello and a very warm Champions League welcome to you wherever you are joining me from around the globe. My name is Cal and I'll be taking you through all the action from the Santiago Bernabéu as both Real Madrid and Chelsea vie for a berth in the semi-finals.
The hosts here in the Spanish capital surprised many with a 3-1 away win in London. Can they stifle the current holders of the trophy? Kick-off is getting ever closer...