A pair of incredible stats have come to light in the first half of Chelsea clash with Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday evening.
The two sides faced off in the Champions League last eight first leg, and after an opening that the visitors shaded, they fell behind when Kepa could only push Vinicius Jr’s shot into the path of Karim Benzema, who tapped in.
King Karim strikes again!! 👑
Real Madrid take their lead through captain and relentless goalscorer Karim Benzema! 🙌#UCL pic.twitter.com/EY6F6DEYWM
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 12, 2023
After that, it was Carlo Ancelotti’s side that dominated, with only some poor decision making in the final third and some good saves from Kepa Arrizabalaga keeping the score at 1-0.
In fact, the eight shots on target that Real Madrid notched up were the most that the Blues have ever faced in the first half of any Champions League game since 2003, two decades.
8 – Real Madrid have recorded eight shots on target in this match; the joint-most that Chelsea have faced in the first half of a UEFA Champions League game on record (since 2003-04). Cosh. pic.twitter.com/nyaSry0llU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 12, 2023
Meanwhile, Karim Benzema’s effort saw him join illustrious company.
In tapping home, the veteran Frenchman brought up his 20th goal against English opponents, including each of his last 11 Champions League knockout goals.
20 – Karim Benzema has scored 20 goals against English opponents in the UEFA Champions League, with only Lionel Messi scoring more (27). Standard. pic.twitter.com/OicteA3Eut
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 12, 2023
The two sides remain separated by just the one goal, with the winner of the meeting between the pair having yielded the Champions of the entire competition in the last two seasons.
Ancelotti’s Madrid will be hoping that the trend can continue, with the winner of this tie set to meet one of Manchester City and Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Should Chelsea continue to offer the level of chances that they did in the first half, the game could well be over come the return leg in a week’s time.
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