Real Madrid got the better of Chelsea at the Santiago Bernabéu to put themselves in a good position in their Champions League quarter-final tie, which will be decided at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday. Ancelotti's boys will head into the second leg with a two-goal advantage thanks to strikes by Benzema and Asensio which came in 1st and 2nd half respectively. It was a great performance with Real Madrid being the better team in all aspects, but with Chelsea having nonetheless their good chances and playing fairly good despite their negative moment.
The first half got underway at a break-neck pace and the first chances didn't take long to come around. Chelsea sprung a rapid counter-attack with just two minutes gone but João Félix's shot was kept out by Thibaut Courtois. Ten minutes later, Benzema cut inside Thiago Silva in the box but the Frenchman's left-footed effort ended up in Kepa's gloves. The opportunities kept coming and Madrid took the lead with 22 minutes on the clock. Carvajal floated the ball in behind the visiting defence where Vini Jr. rose acrobatically to turn the ball on target with an outstretched left boot. Kepa parried well but Benzema was on hand to turn into the empty net and make it 1-0
Chelsea's response was immediate and Courtois had to make a prodigious save a minute later after Sterling's shot from just inside the six-yard box. From that point until half-time it was one-way traffic and the Whites could have taken the lead on three occasions. The first came in the 26th minute after a lovely move by Vini Jr, who skipped past Fofana and beat Kepa to the ball, but Thiago Silva cleared off the line. The second came in the 38th minute. Modrić crossed and Alaba's header forced a superb save from Kepa. The third came from Valverde in the 44th minute, as he won the ball back in his own half and made a surging run into the box but Kepa was again on hand to keep out his attempt.
The game continued to be just as entertaining after the break and Modrić could have extended the lead in the 50th minute with a lovely curling shot that bent narrowly over the bar. Nine minutes later, Chelsea were reduced to 10 men when Chilwell was sent off. A quickly taken free-kick set Rodrygo Goes free over the top and the former Leicester City defender dragged the Brazilian down needlessly when he was one-on-one with the Chelsea keeper. His red-card made Chelsea's task even more challenging.
The minutes ticked by until the Whites got a well-deserved second in the 74th minute. Modrić quickly swung in a corner for Kroos, who passed to Vini Jr. to set up Asensio. The Balearic player scored with an inch-perfect left-footed shot from the edge of the area. From that moment the Blues tried to increase their pressure since they did not have much to lose but were unable to pose serious threat. In stoppage time, Benzema could have made it three after a Kepa clearance, but his header went high. Real Madrid take a two-goal cushion into the second leg, which will be played on 18 April in London.
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