Milan wins in CL with a majority
Red for Chelsea and victory for Real Madrid
04/12/2023, 10:58 p.m
The crisis at Chelsea also continues in the Champions League. In the first leg of the quarter-finals at Real Madrid, Karim Benzema scores for the royals, then a Chelsea professional is sent off with a red card. In the parallel game, AC Milan gains a lead over SSC Napoli.
Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea (1-0)
Defending champions Real Madrid are again on course for the semifinals in the Champions League. With Toni Kroos in the starting XI, the Spanish football 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).
Red for Ben Chilwell.
(Photo: AP)
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.
AC Milan 1-0 SSC Napoli (1-0)
Champion AC Milan showed the limits in the Italian duel of SSC Napoli and worked out a good starting position for the second leg of the quarter-finals. The seven-time title holder won 1-0 (1-0) against the undisputed leaders of Serie A in San Siro at home. Ismael Bennacer (40th) scored for Milan.
Naples had started furiously in front of 74,742 Tifosi, after 50 seconds Chwitscha Kwarazchelia missed the first big opportunity. With anger in their stomachs after the most recent 0: 4 smack in the league against Milan, the guests continued to press – until AC freed themselves: Rafael Leon (25th) missed after a counterattack, Algerian Bennacer did better.
And Milan could have done better before the break. Ex-Wolfsburg player Simon Kjaer, who was preferred to German U21 European champion Malick Thiaw, headed the bottom edge of the bar after a corner (45+3). Napoli, who are on the verge of their first championship in 33 years, looked impressed and saved themselves at the break.
With new momentum, Eljif Elmas missed the equalizer (50′), goalkeeper Mike Maignan directed the North Macedonian’s header, who replaced the injured top scorer Victor Osimhen, onto the crossbar. But after the yellow-red card for Zambo Anguissa (74th), hopes dwindled, and Maignan reacted strongly against Matteo Politano (86th).
If the southern Italians want to continue their run in Europe beyond the quarter-finals, they have to improve and take advantage of their chances in next Tuesday’s second leg. After all: So far, Napoli has won all four home games in this Champions League season, including against Liverpool (4-1) and Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0).