Champions League: Real Madrid confidently defeat Chelsea 2-0 – Sport

Defending champions Real Madrid are again on course for the semi-finals in the Champions League. With Toni Kroos in the starting XI, the Spanish record champions defeated Chelsea 2-0 (1-0) in the first leg of the quarter-finals and thus secured a very good starting position for the second duel on April 18 in London.

Karim Benzema (21′) and Marco Asensio (74′) scored for Los Blancos, with international Antonio Rüdiger coming on in the 71st minute. Dortmund conquerors Chelsea initially offered a decent performance, but in the end eleventh in the Premier League table was again not efficient enough. Kai Havertz came on as a substitute in the 65th minute for the guests, who were outnumbered for a good half hour after a red card against Ben Chilwell (59th, emergency brake).

Chelsea did not hide and had the first big chance, but João Félix was denied by Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (2). On the other side, Benzema fired the first warning shot (13′). Eight minutes later, the French striker did better. After a shot from Vinicius Junior and a save from Kepa, Benzema pushed the ball into the empty goal. It was the 90th goal of the 35-year-old in the 149th appearance in the premier class. Chelsea put the deficit away well and almost equalized through Raheem Sterling (27th).

Real got off to a better start after the change. Luka Modrić just missed the second goal (50′). Outnumbered, the Blues found it increasingly difficult to play up front. Joker Asensio raised for Madrid after a quick corner kick.

Milan beat league leaders Napoli again

In the second quarter-final, Napoli failed to avenge AC Milan for a depressing 4-0 in the league. In contrast to the clear home defeat on April 2nd, the eleven of SSC trainer Luciano Spalletti were in parts the clearly better team. Even outnumbered – Zambo Anguissa saw the yellow-red card (74th) – the Serie A leaders still had chances. In the end, a goal from Ismaël Bennacer (40th) handed Milan a narrow home win.

Goal to win the first leg: Ismaël Bennacer (right) scores to make it 1-0 for Milan.

(Photo: Luca Bruno/AP)

The guests had a better start in the first meeting between two Italian teams in the Champions League since 2005. After less than a minute, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had the first SSC chance, Davide Calabria cleared just before the goal line. Napoli, who are the undisputed leaders of the domestic league with 16 points, continued to press without top scorer Victor Osimhen (adductor problems) and created a number of opportunities.

After 25 minutes, Rafael Leão sprinted at high speed into the visitors’ penalty area for the previously passive home team, but pushed the ball just wide of the SSC goal. Milan’s offensive also relied on speed to make it 1-0, when the hosts surprised the Spalletti team in a counter-attack and Bennacer finished with a powerful left-footed shot.

At the beginning of the second half, Milan coach Stefano Pioli’s side were initially lucky when goalkeeper Mike Maignan deflected an Eljif Elmas header just past the crossbar of the Milan goal. Napoli remained the better team afterwards, the Milanese hardly posed any danger. Despite a hot final phase with several good opportunities, the guests did not score a goal. The second leg takes place on Tuesday in Naples.

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