With a dominant begin and a milestone aim by Christian Pulisic, Chelsea confirmed its power in opposition to Real Madrid within the Champions League semifinals.
Chelsea took management early in Tuesday’s first leg to carry the Spanish powerhouse to a 1-1 away draw, with Pulisic changing into the primary U.S. worldwide to attain within the event’s final 4. He additionally surpassed DaMarcus Beasley to change into the highest American scorer in Champions League historical past with 5 targets.
A red-hot Karim Benzema equalized for a lackluster Madrid squad on a wet evening on the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium within the first Champions League match for the reason that controversial Super League folded final week amid widespread criticism.
The largely closed breakaway competitors would have had Real Madrid as one among its leaders, and Chelsea additionally was amongst its founding members earlier than dropping the thought together with the opposite English golf equipment. Madrid didn’t formally again out of the Super League however had downplayed the opportunity of retaliation by UEFA in its Champions League matches. There had been no refereeing controversies in Tuesday’s match.
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema celebrates with Toni Kroos, left, after scoring his aspect’s first aim through the Champions League semifinal first leg match between Real Madrid and Chelsea on the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
The second leg is on May 5 in London. Manchester City hosts Paris Saint-Germain within the different semifinal on Wednesday.
Chelsea obtained off to a quick begin and had probabilities so as to add to its lead after Pulisic opened the scoring with a pleasant end within the 14th minute off a excessive go by Antonio Rudiger inside the realm. Pulisic calmly obtained previous goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois earlier than hitting the online previous the Madrid defenders making an attempt to dam his shot on the aim line.
“It was a great finish, great composure,” Chelsea captain César Azpilicueta stated of the 22-year-old Pulisic, who has been thriving after being marred by accidents early within the season. “He’s an amazing player, he’s a young player, he’s growing and improving. I’m very pleased with his goal because he’s an important player for the team.”
Pulisic is the second U.S. worldwide to play in a Champions League semifinal after Beasley for PSV Eindhoven in a first-leg sport in opposition to AC Milan in 2005.
Madrid evened the match on Benzema’s volley from inside the realm within the twenty ninth, and there have been few important probabilities both manner throughout the remainder of the sport.
Benzema’s aim got here a couple of minutes after he clipped the put up with a long-range shot. The French striker managed a unfastened ball along with his head earlier than turning and firing a volley into the highest of the online for his thirteenth aim in his final 14 matches. It was Benzema’s sixteenth aim in his final 17 house video games with Madrid.
Highlights:
Chelsea gave little house to Madrid and was the extra harmful workforce early on on the Di Stéfano in Madrid’s coaching complicated. The hosts struggled defensively with their setup of three central defenders.
“We started the game very, very well — very aggressively, with a lot of quality,” Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel stated. “We deserved to win the first half. We had a lot of chances. We should have scored at least one more when the chances and half-chances were there.”
Not lengthy earlier than Pulisic’s opener, Timo Werner had his strike from in entrance of the aim stopped by an outstanding reflex save by Courtois, a former Chelsea participant.
“It’s true that it was a complicated first half,” Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane stated. “But we are still alive going into the second leg. We are happy with the result in general.”
Former Chelsea ahead Eden Hazard, coming off a protracted damage layoff, entered the match within the second half however couldn’t discover areas to spark Madrid to victory.
Madrid, making a file 14th semifinal look, gained three straight Champions League titles from 2016-18, earlier than Cristiano Ronaldo left, however the 13-time champion was eradicated within the spherical of 16 within the final two editions.
Chelsea gained the European title in 2012 and returned to the semifinals two years later, however hadn’t been again to the final 4 since. Tuchel is making an attempt to make it to a second consecutive remaining after a runner-up end with Paris Saint-Germain final season. Chelsea has solely two losses for the reason that German coach took over in January.
