A incredible Karim Benzema strike interrupted Christian Pulisic’s opener as Actual and Chelsea drew 1-1 in the primary leg of their Champions League semi-final in Spain.
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The Blues must have gone ahead inside 10 minutes however Timo Werner fired straight at Thibaut Courtois from the empty space. Shortly after Pulisic opened the scoring, he clicked Antonio Rudiger’s good lengthy ball and confirmed nice calm to delay his end.
⚪️ Karim Benzema joins Raúl González on 71 objectives within the Champions League?
Actual Madrid legend ✅ # UCL pic.twitter.com/eiSSBk04Eq
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 27, 2021
Benzema was the one Actual participant to trigger Chelsea issues and minutes after he minimize within the crossbar, Frencham equalized and managed effectively from a stable piece earlier than hitting the ball into the web.
After the break, issues boiled down. Not even the introduction of the previous Chelsea favourite Eden Hazard might spark the recreation to life once more and go away the tie fantastically on its technique to subsequent Wednesday’s second stage.
Listed here are your Actual and Blues participant scores from the Spanish capital …
Militao loved tackling within the rain Denis Doyle / Getty Photographs
Thibaut Courtois (GK) – 7/10 – Made a giant, large save from Werner early – certainly one of three in complete.
Eder Militao (CB) – 8/10 – Impressed with some difficult tackles. Deal with effectively with Chelsea’s stress and insert a well-rounded defensive show.
Raphael Varane (CB) – 7/10 – Did effectively to cowl for Marcelo’s slack who defended all the way down to the left in the primary half.
Nacho (CB) – 6/10 – Least noticeable by Actual’s defenders. He was overwhelmed a few occasions by Chelsea’s striker.
Modric acquired higher as issues went on Denis Doyle / Getty Photographs
Dani Carvajal (RWB) – 6/10 – There have been awards even within the battle between him and Chilwell with none participant getting a lot pleasure.
Luka Modric (CM) – 5/10 – Nowhere close to as influential as we all know he may be. His lack of legs generally confirmed and Chelsea surpassed him effectively.
Casemiro (CM) – 7/10 – His large nod on the again submit created Benzema’s objective. After breaking apart a number of occasions early, he began doing issues after the break.
Toni Kroos (CM) – 6/10 – A marginal determine. Once more, the Chelsea press restricted his affect.
Marcelo (LWB) – 5/10 – His positioning was in all places in the primary half. He hid inwards ahead, providing little and leaving Varane uncovered within the protection.
Benzema scored a pleasant objective | Soccrates Photographs / Getty Photographs
Karim Benzema (ST) – 8/10 – Pulled his aspect by means of this tie kicks and screams. Lower off the bar a number of minutes earlier than you acquired a pleasant smoothing.
Vinicius Junior (ST) – 5/10 – Noticed slightly misplaced generally, not figuring out when to drop deep and when to tug behind.
Hazard loved a 25 minute cameo | Denis Doyle / Getty Photographs
Eden Hazard – 6/10 – A reasonably quiet return to his outdated staff, even in the event that they had been a number of moments of sophistication.
Alvaro Odriozola – 6/10 – Not a lot to report.
Marco Asensio – 6/10 – Marginal determine.
Rodrygo – Not relevant
Rudiger had recreation | Soccrates Photographs / Getty Photographs
Edouard Mendy (GK) – 6/10 – Not a lot to do. Benzema gave him a small probability with the objective.
Andreas Christensen (CB) – 7/10 – A cushty night. He learn issues effectively however was not examined an excessive amount of.
Thiago Silva (CB) – 7/10 – Tried luck for attain throughout the first half. Not a lot to do defensively.
Antonio Rudiger (CB) – 8/10 – Set the opener with an exquisitely lengthy ball. His passing was incredible all night time and created some openings for his staff.
Edge was busy in the center | Denis Doyle / Getty Photographs
Cesar Azpilicueta (RWB) – 5/10 – Bullied by Casemiro within the build-up to Actual’s equalization. In addition to, he did effectively, though you are feeling that Reece James could have used Actual extra on the appropriate.
N’Golo Kante (CM) – 7/10 – Some clumsy moments however he was most spectacular. Did his traditional defensive work but in addition drove his staff skillfully ahead.
Jorginho (CM) – 6/10 – Saved Chelsea ticking with their metronomically quick cross.
Ben Chilwell (LWB) – 6/10 – A reasonably quiet night. One or two selections within the final third might have been higher.
Pulisic bag opener | Soccrates Photographs / Getty Photographs
Mason Mount (RW) – 7/10 – A energetic display. He at all times tried to make one thing occur however was not allowed to rub the inexperienced.
Timo Werner (ST) – 5/10 – One other surprising miss early. Like, actually dangerous. As at all times, he nonetheless made a shift however he had to start out taking these probabilities.
Christian Pulisic (LW) – 8/10 – His staff’s brightest spark. Confirmed nice calm to open the rating and carved out quite a few alternatives for his aspect.
Ziyech was lively however lacked the killer intuition Soccrates Photographs / Getty Photographs
Hakim Ziyech – 6/10 – Missed the final ball however was at all times concerned.
Reece James – 6/10 – Provided extra in the long run than Azpilicueta.
Kai Havertz – 6/10 – Received a free kick on the sting of the field that his teammates couldn’t reap the benefits of.
