Real Madrid and Chelsea balanced each other on Tuesday evening. The Champions League match in the Estadio Di Stéfano, which was mutually led by Danny Makkelie, ended with goals from Christian Pulisic and Karim Benzema in 1-1. Hakim Ziyech started from the bench and came in for Pulisic after 66 minutes. The return in the semi-final of the Champions League will be played at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 5 May.
Even before the end of the tenth minute of play, the Londoners came close to the opening goal via Timo Werner. After a quick counter, Mason Mount put the ball down at the far post, where Christian Pulisic was standing to head back to Werner. From a few meters, the striker had the corner to choose, but he shot right at goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who saved with the right foot. Four minutes later, the closing post still capitulated.
Antonio Rüdiger was played on the center line and found Pulisic with a nice deep pass. The attacker took the ball, outplayed Courtois and fired in convincingly from close range: 0-1. With his goal, Pulisic became the first American ever to score in a semi-final of the Champions League. Halfway through the first half, Real Madrid gave a sign of life for the first time. Benzema created space for the shot just outside the sixteen-meter area and lashed out very promising, but the captain saw his shot ricochet off the right post.
The Madrid defense looked a lot like cheese with holes and the Royal escaped when N’Golo Kanté was given free passage to the sixteen and played on Ben Chilwell. The left wing defender, however, did not hit the ball cleanly and failed to score the 0-2. After half an hour of play, Real Madrid came to the same level. Marcelo delivered a cross from the left flank to Casemiro, who brought in position via Éder Militão Benzema. The Frenchman won the game against Thiago Silva and Andreas Christensen, took the ball with his head and completed the turn in the roof of the goal: 1-1. It was the 71st Champions League goal for Benzema, equaling Raúl’s balance. Only Robert Lewandowski (73), Lionel Messi (120) and Cristiano Ronaldo (134) scored more often in the champion ball.
Like a jack from a box ?? It’s Chelsea that dictates, but then there’s always Benzema there. The super striker shoots the 1-1 against the ropes ?? This is also a great goal ??#ZiggoSport #UCL #RMACHE pic.twitter.com/sWoDwkHRq0
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) April 27, 2021
The liberating goal clearly gave the home team more color on the cheeks, while Chelsea became more reluctant in the remainder of the first act. Nevertheless, the visitors came close to a new lead four minutes before half time. Werner rushed into the penalty area from the right, although he did not get the shot that followed between the posts. The German clearly did not have his sights on. In the opening phase of the second act, the teams kept each other in balance and great opportunities were not noted.
In an attempt to break the deadlock, Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Reece James came in at Chelsea midway through the second half. At the same time, trainer Zinedine Zidane also went looking for new, attacking impulses and took Vinícius Júnior to the side in favor of Eden Hazard. The former attacker of the Blues played his first Champions League minutes since November 25, when he played against Internazionale (0-2) and was accurate.
Twelve minutes before the end of the official playing time, Ziyech was given an opportunity to lead his team from a free kick. His shot went over the wall to the top right corner, but Courtois reacted alertly and coolly plucked the ball out of the corner. In the final phase, Real Madrid came with an offensive; however, the score on the scoreboard did not change.