Chelsea got off to a furious start in the second leg against Real Madrid. In the end, however, the Spaniards remained ice cold – and bought their ticket for the semifinals. One player excelled.
That was clear: Real Madrid bought their ticket for the Champions League semifinals against Chelsea. A 2-0 win (0-0) against England in the second leg on Tuesday evening was enough after Carlo Ancelotti’s team also won the first leg comfortably 2-0.
Real’s Rodrygo excelled in London with a brace: in the 58th minute he redeemed his team with a goal to make it 1-0 after a pass by Vinicius Junior. Shortly before the end, the 22-year-old sealed the 2-0 final score with his second goal (80th minute).
The defending champion around jubilee Toni Kroos has once again proven his extra class. When asked if calm was the secret of success, Kroos replied: “Definitely not only, that would be a bit too much self-praise. We have a team that has experienced a bit together.” That gives you peace of mind and the belief that you can somehow manage it in the end, the ex-German national player continued. Kroos completed his 150th European Cup game for the Madrilenians.
Team colleague Antonio Rüdiger was also satisfied with the evening: “We did our job. Perfect,” he said modestly after the game. For him it was a return to Stamford Bridge after five years at Chelsea. He himself felt good: “It was good and hardly any whistles.”
That’s how the game went
Ancelotti trusted the successful starting formation from the first comparison, Antonio Rüdiger initially had to sit on the bench again. At Chelsea Kai Havertz moved into the starting XI.
The hosts started powerfully at Stamford Bridge and had the first goal through N’Golo Kante (11th). The favorites had most of the action in the first half under control, but did not do more than necessary. Real became dangerous for the first time with a shot by Rodrygo on the outside of the post (20′), Luka Modrić failed at keeper Kepa (32′). In added time in the first half, Belgian international goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved Madrid from going behind with a powerful save against Marc Cucurella (45+1).
Rüdiger came on in the second half – and Real remained a bit careless in some situations. Kante (52nd) and Havertz (57th) did not capitalize on it. Madrid were more efficient and took the lead after a counterattack by Rodrygo. The 22-year-old Brazilian also took care of the final score.
