Real Madrid secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. Chelsea huffed and puffed but ultimately run out of steam as Rodrygo scored a second-half double for clinical Real Madrid to seal a spot in the Champions League semis. The Blues were knocked out of the Champions League title race after a 4-0 aggregate loss to reigning champions, Madrid. Chelsea has lost four games in a row in all competitions for the first time since 1993 after the club’s record scorer Frank Lampard returned as interim manager.
The hosts started brightly, playing aggressive football, but failed to score on two good chances in the first half. If they would have scored, it would have heaped pressure on the title holders. Chelsea produced 19 goal attempts but yet again they lacked any cutting edge. The Blues had a glorious chance to take the lead but Kante slanted his left-foot shot wide from about 12 yards.
Chelsea should have been ahead on the stroke of half-time when Reece James bubbled a ball across the box from the right and it fell to Marc Cucurella at the back post. The defender took a fine touch before smashing ut but Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois came flying out of his goal to make a brilliant save. Certainly, Chelsea looked like the better team in the first half with the score at 0-0.
Chelsea had another golden opportunity to take the lead early in the second half but Frenchman N’Golo Kante’s close-range effort hit Eder Militao and deflected away. But then the 14-time winners Madrid, as they so often do in these big European clashes, picked their moments and carved Chelsea apart as the game progressed.
The Blues’ hope of making an improbable comeback was dashed when Rodrygo scored the opener for Madrid in 58 minutes. Vinicius Junior eased past Chalobah down the flank and had an uninterrupted run toward the goal. Rather than attempting a shot, he played it across the face of the goal. The Brazilian forward composed himself, took a touch, and then lifted it into the net from close range.
The celebrations started well and truly in Madrid in the 80th minute when the 22-year-old Brazilian doubled the lead for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, tapping home after a clever assist from Federico Valverde.
Madrid will likely face Manchester City in the semifinals, with Pep Guardiola’s men leading Bayern Munich 3-0 in their quarterfinal with one leg to play. Madrid is eyeing winning the trophy for the fifth time.
