Defending champions Real Madrid are again on course for the semifinals in the Champions League.
With Toni Kroos in the starting XI, the Spanish football champions defeated Chelsea 2-0 (1-0) in the first leg of the quarter-finals and thus secured a very good starting position for the second duel on April 18 in London.
Karim Benzema (21′) and Marco Asensio (74′) scored for Los Blancos, with international Antonio Rüdiger coming on in the 71st minute. Dortmund conquerors Chelsea initially offered a decent performance, but in the end eleventh in the Premier League table was again not efficient enough.
Kai Havertz came on as a substitute in the 65th minute for the guests, who were outnumbered for a good half hour after a red card against Ben Chilwell (59th, emergency brake).
Chelsea didn’t hide and had the first big chance, but Joao Felix was denied by Belgium international goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (2′). On the other side, Benzema fired the first warning shot (13′).
Eight minutes later, the French striker did better. After a shot from Vinicius Junior and a save from Kepa, Benzema pushed the ball into the empty goal. It was the 90th goal of the 35-year-old in the 149th appearance in the premier class. Chelsea put the deficit away well and almost equalized through Raheem Sterling (27th).
Real got off to a better start after the change. Luka Modric narrowly missed the second goal (50′). Outnumbered, the Blues found it increasingly difficult to play up front. Joker Asensio raised for Madrid.
