📰 Table Of Contents
Pre-Match Social Media Commentary
“I was in my front room in shorts and a t shirt watching Netflix!” 😂😂
Frank Lampard re-lives the moment he got the call to return as Chelsea manager…
🎙️ @mrjakehumphrey | @rioferdy5 pic.twitter.com/BjkGtj1iaC
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 12, 2023
That Chelsea lineup is ideal. Intention is to keep things tight and hope to come away with something. That’s the right approach and I hope the boys execute well.
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) April 12, 2023
Joao Felix has failed to win or score against Real Madrid with Atletico Madrid. He is preferred to Havertz in 3-5-2 so let’s see if he can do it tonight. https://t.co/4LUH2Gv5TO
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) April 12, 2023
Chelsea’s woes continue across the 2022-23 campaign both at home and abroad after their unexpected inclusion in the quarterfinals of the Champions League put them on a collision course with holders Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants taking a 2-0 lead into the second leg in Stamford Bridge after a consummate win in front of home support at the Santiago Bernabeu.
On a night when Frank Lampard was hoping to instill some measure of grit and determination in a Blues outfit that have endured hardship all season long, the iconic former midfielder was unable to conjure up a performance good enough to outstrip the thirteen-time winners.
Real 2 Chelsea 0. Comfortable in the end for the defending #UCL champions despite a bright #CFC start. Felix missed a big early chance and Rudiger made a vital block late on to deny Mount. Courtois also pulled off a stunning save from Sterling’s strike. #CFC had opportunities. pic.twitter.com/U5GvN4bqCG
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) April 12, 2023
The Blues nearly got off to a dream start inside three minutes when João Félix was released into space behind the last defender but the Portuguese bungled his opportunity by taking too much time on the ball before the chance was snuffed out.
Lampard’s troops continued to knock on the door in the opening ten minutes before Madrid finally settled into a rhythm while asking one or two half-questions of their own, but it remained clear that Chelsea was much more up for the fight compared to their performance at the weekend against Wolves.
Real took the lead right on 22 minutes thanks to a moment of madness from Chelsea when the Blues turned possession over in the defensive third while trying to play out of the back before Dani Carvajal played a ball over the top for Vinícius Júnior only for the Brazilian star to volley across goal to find Karim Benzema who tapped home after Kepa Arrizabalaga failed to collect.
Karim Benzema ties Erling Haaland for the most goals scored among players from Europe’s top five leagues since the World Cup break 🤯
They’re inevitable 😤 pic.twitter.com/U3nuWOXHlN
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 12, 2023
But Chelsea nearly leveled matters just after the restart after Sterling’s first-time effort on the back of Reece James’ ball across the face of goal was expertly turned away by former Blues shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois, with Madrid still susceptible to being cut open via direct play.
Resumption of play saw both sides pick up where they left off from a tactical level, but Chelsea’s night went from bad to worse when Ben Chilwell was shown a straight red card and given his marching orders in the 60th minute for bringing down Rodrygo after the Brazilian was in behind the back line and through on goal.
The man advantage would finally come home to roost in the 74th minute through second-half substitute Marco Asensio after Madrid continued to pile on the pressure before the Spanish international found the back of the net with a low-bending effort from just outside the box to cap off a short corner to create space.
Madrid coasted from then on and probably could have scored a third at the very least, but a comfortable 2-0 lead going into the return leg in west London should be more than enough against a Chelsea outfit that still has it all to prove. Though the Blues did have their chances, they once again fell short in front of goal while consistently showing themselves incapable of finding the back of the net at a rate commensurate with their stature across Europe.
Key Stats & Performers
HT: Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea
xG: 1.77-0.81
Shots: 10-3
Shots on target: 8-2
Touches in opp. box: 16-5
Possession: 59.6%-40.4%Somehow, Lampard’s side are still in it. 😮💨#UCL pic.twitter.com/DxO4N2htTj
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 12, 2023
Karim Benzema’s first half by numbers vs. Chelsea:
84% pass accuracy
3 shots on target
2 duels won
1/1 dribble completed
1 key pass
1 goalHe’s been a handful. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CtdC3zUnbH
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 12, 2023
Karim Benzema has had 3 shots on target in the first half against Chelsea, that’s as many total shots as the whole Chelsea squad combined.
Outgunned. 💥 pic.twitter.com/QIR9LDmlJ3
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 12, 2023
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
Vinícius Júnior’s game by numbers vs. Chelsea:
65 touches
19 touches in opp. box (most)
8 duels won
5 crosses
4 take-ons completed
4 chances created (most)
3 shots
2 shots on target
2 tackles made
2 fouls won
1 assistAnother ‘generational right-back’ on toast. 🍞#UCL pic.twitter.com/sjxD2QYxjn
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 12, 2023
Enzo Fernández created more chances against Real Madrid (2) than the rest of the entire Chelsea team combined (1).
They’ve got Enzo in the middle… and nothing else. 🙃#UCL pic.twitter.com/MlsAeD7zdw
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 12, 2023
Each of Karim Benzema’s last 11 goals in the Champions League have been against English clubs 💪 pic.twitter.com/PwMy5BNmBi
— GOAL (@goal) April 12, 2023
Chelsea 0-2 Aston Villa
Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
Real Madrid 2-0 ChelseaChelsea are scoreless in their last four matches in all competitions 😬 pic.twitter.com/DSoUcZYG4z
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 12, 2023
Fede Valverde’s game by numbers vs. Chelsea:
93 touches
91% pass accuracy
70 passes completed
4/5 long balls completed
3 interceptions
3 ground duels wonBack in his best position? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ymQiOhLPe7
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 12, 2023
20 – Vinícius Júnior has been directly involved in 20 goals in his last 20 appearances in the UEFA Champions League, scoring 10 times and providing 10 assists. Vision. pic.twitter.com/0pJzAJa1Xl
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 12, 2023
Real Madrid Player Ratings
- GK: Thibaut Courtois – 7
- RB: Dani Carvajal – 7
- RCB: Éder Militão – 6.5
- LCB: David Alaba – 7
- LB: Eduardo Camavinga – 7
- DM: Toni Kroos – 7.5
- RCM: Luka Modrić – 7.5
- LCM: Federico Valverde – 7.5
- RW: Rodrygo – 7
- LW: Vinícius Júnior – 8
- CF: Karim Benzema – 8
- Sub: Marco Asensio – 7.5
- Sub: Antonio Rüdiger – 6.5
- Sub: Dani Ceballos – 6
- Sub: Aurélien Tchouaméni – 6
Chelsea Player Ratings
- GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 7.5
- RCB: Wesley Fofana – 6
- CB: Thiago Silva – 6
- LCB: Kalidou Koulibaly – 6.5
- RWB: Reece James – 6
- DM: N’Golo Kanté – 7
- LWB: Ben Chilwell – 5
- RCM: Mateo Kovačić – 6
- LCM: Enzo Fernández – 6
- RF: João Félix – 6.5
- LF: Raheem Sterling – 6
- Sub: Marc Cucurella – 6
- Sub: Kai Havertz – 6
- Sub: Trevoh Chalobah – 6
- Sub: Mason Mount – 6
- Sub: Conor Gallagher – 6
