Tuesday April 27, 2021
Chelsea have a slight advantage
Benzema punishes Werner’s bad miss
In the semi-final first leg between Real Madrid and Chelsea, one thing dominates: the rain. In difficult conditions, Thomas Tuchel’s team seems a bit closer to making it into the final of the Champions League after the first game. Timo Werner should nevertheless noticeably quarrel.
Team manager Thomas Tuchel has laid the foundation stone for the final in the Champions League with Chelsea. The English ex-champions fought 1-1 (1-1) in a rainy battle at Real Madrid in the semi-final first leg and, despite a missed monster chance by national player Timo Werner, has good prospects before the second duel on May 5th at Stamford Bridge.
Ex-Dortmund Christian Pulisic (14th) brought Chelsea in the lead in the clash of the prevented Super League participants, Karim Benzema (29th) equalized with Toni Kroos for the royal team. For Chelsea it would be the first final in the premier class since the triumph against Bayern Munich in 2012. The second semi-final will be on Wednesday (9 p.m. / Sky and in the live ticker at ntv.de) Bayern conqueror Paris St. Germain and top favorite Manchester City opposite.
Kroos returned to the starting line-up at the small Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano after missing three games due to muscular problems. Tuchel started with Werner and Antonio Rüdiger, Kai Havertz first took a seat on the bench.
“We are very self-confident,” announced Tuchel immediately before kick-off. His players followed the route of the march. On the basis of a safe defense, the guests kept looking for the way forward in the initial phase and had a huge chance to take the lead through Werner. But the former Leipzig shot from five meters free-standing Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (10th). Memories of his missed opportunity in the national jersey in the World Cup qualification against North Macedonia (1: 2) four weeks ago were awakened.
Benzema catches up with Raul
But Chelsea was not impressed by it. After a strong pass by Rüdiger, the ex-Dortmund Pulisic danced out the Real defense including Courtois and took the lead. Tuchel, who lost the final with Paris against FC Bayern last year (0: 1), cheered on the sideline for the important away goal.
For Real it was an effective hit. The hosts did not get into the game at all and repeatedly allowed Chelsea spaces for quick attacks. Only with a long-range shot from Benzema to the outside post (23rd) did the Spanish record champions set their first offensive signal in the heavy rain.
Nevertheless, the compensation fell surprisingly. After a cross, the defense of Rüdiger from London did not get the ball cleared, Benzema scored well. For the French it was the 71st goal in the Champions League. He drew level with Real legend Raul. Los Blancos were inspired by the equalizer and gained security. Kroos did not aim precisely enough from a distance (32nd).
Both teams started the second round cautiously and shied away from the last risk. Tuchel and Zinedine Zidane reacted with staff changes after more than an hour. At Chelsea Havertz replaced the hapless Werner, Zidane brought Eden Hazard against his old club. In the hosts’ final offensive, Kroos tried again with a long-range shot (88th).
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