Chelsea Crushed By Extra Time Winner From Real Madrid

Chelsea hearts were left broken after an extra-time winner from Karim Benzema cost them a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League. 

Chelsea looked certain to progress after coming back from 3-1 down on aggregate to lead 4-3 against Real Madrid. However, Luka Modric's pinpoint pass left Rodrygo in prime position to score, taking the match to extra time before Benzema finished things off. 

The final score on the night was 2-3, with Real Madrid winning 5-4 on aggregate. 

Despite coming away without a victory, Chelsea won’t have much to complain about as they put in a strong performance on the night. Head coach Thomas Tuchel was full of praise for his players after the game, insisting that there was “nothing to regret” and that his team “deserved to go through”.

And it's hard to argue with that assessment or Tuchel's description of Chelsea being "unlucky". 

After starting the match 3-1 down, Chelsea put in a commanding performance in the first half. Mason Mount scored after 15 minutes to send the blues in 1-0 up at half-time before Antonio Rudiger, and Timo Werner scored to put Chelsea ahead on aggregate. 

However, those weren't the only opportunities for Chelsea. Before Werner found the target, Alonso had a goal disallowed by VAR due to handball, and Kai Havertz hit the side netting. In the first half, Madrid's goal was constantly under attack from a Chelsea team determined to bounce back from the 3-1 defeat on the first leg with six attempts on target in the first 30 minutes. 

Late on in the match, Chelsea nearly made it four, with Courtois just about managing to keep out Havertz's powerful header. But in a match that contained plenty of action and excitement, exuberance from Chelsea very quickly led to dismay as an incredible pass from Modric to Rodrygo brought Madrid back to an even footing. 

In the first leg, Vinicius Jr and Karim Benzema linked up to devastating effect, and there were signs in the first half that they were poised to do the same again. 

They managed to do just that in extra time, with Benzema slotting home his fourth goal in the tie in the first half of extra time. Chelsea tried hard to respond with shots from Ziyech, Havertz and Jorginho, but none found their way to the back of the net. 

Although they didn’t get the result they wanted, Chelsea will go down as only the second English team who were able to score three away goals against Real Madrid in all competitions. The last team? Manchester United in 1968!

After returning to London, Chelsea won’t have much time to lick their wounds as on Sunday they meet Crystal Palace for the FA Cup semi-final.

Real Madrid will face Sevilla in the domestic league before meeting either Atletico or Manchester City in the semi-finals of the Champions League at the end of this month.