Karim Benzema has scored in 16 successive Champions League campaigns
Fans gather outside Stamford Bridge to wish the home heroes all the best. They sure are well equipped to make it a blue day!
“I don’t think we need a miracle or any crazy stuff. We need our best level of performance. We have trust in ourselves, we arrive self-confident, the best way to arrive.
We face a difficult team with a lot of quality and you need a little bit of luck, momentum, little decisions, little situations can decide matches like this.
We want a performance on the highest level. I am pretty sure we will need more than 11 players to sneak through today, so it is good for us to have Christian Pulisic on the bench. The challenge is on!”
Look who’s back at Stamford Bridge…
Eden Hazard was a Chelsea player between 2012 and 2019, scoring 110 goals in 352 games in all competitions.
Real Madrid have faced Chelsea more often without winning than any other side in their entire history (D2 L2). The first leg was their first ever UEFA Champions League meeting.
Chelsea have kept seven clean sheets in 11 UEFA Champions League games this season. The London side and Manchester City possess the joint best defensive record with just four goals conceded.
Chelsea will be happy enough with the way this has gone so far. Real Madrid haven’t come anywhere near to scoring the goal they need.
Chelsea 1-0 Real Madrid (Werner 28’)
AGG: 2-1
Chelsea are ahead! Havertz hits the woodwork and Werner gratefully converts from the rebound to tap a header into the unguarded net!
Werner celebrates his 11th UEFA Champions League goal.
Timo Werner has scored or assisted in four of his seven Champions League knockout appearances:
vs Spurs
vs Spurs
vs Atlético Madrid
vs. Real Madrid
He couldn’t miss that one.
At the break, advantage Chelsea who are 45 minutes away from an Istanbul meeting with Manchester City!
Half-time verdict – Chelsea:
Pretty much a perfect half for Chelsea, who have the lead on the night and have looked menacing going forward. They’ve soaked up Real Madrid’s pressure and, thanks to Mendy’s two saves, are on course for their third UEFA Champions League final.
– Jon Phipps (Chelsea reporter)
Half-time verdict - Real Madrid:
Not a great half for the visitors, who were second-best throughout. They don’t look comfortable, especially when out of possession, and, a couple of individual Benzema efforts aside, have not threatened to get back into this. A huge team-talk awaits Zidane.
–Joe Walker (Madrid reporter)
Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, speaking to BT Sport about Havertz’s part in the goal:
“He had the composure and the audacity, in a Champions League semi-final, to dink Courtois, who’s about nine foot tall. Brilliant, brilliant goal.”
Former Real Madrid striker Michael Owen, speaking to BT Sport about Mendy’s saves from Benzema:
“They were two great saves, but Benzema will be kicking himself for the second one. In a Champions League semi-final, you’ve got to do better than just hitting the target – you’ve got to find the corner.”
Chelsea have not lost a home Champions League match after scoring first since 2014
Real Madrid have only failed to score in one of their last 12 away matches in the semi-finals
Real have done very little to worry the hosts. They’ve been staggeringly impotent so far.
Chelsea 2-0 Real Madrid (Mount 85’)
AGG: 3-1
Mount makes his mark to move Chelsea closer to the final!
Chelsea can book their tickets to Istanbul! They’ll face Manchester City at the Ataturk Stadium on May 29 in the 2021 Champions League Final.
Werner & Mount send Chelsea through to the Champions League final!
What a job Tuchel has done!
Chelsea have been sensational tonight.
Thomas Tuchel will become the first manager to contest back-to-back European Cup finals with different clubs, having taken PSG there last season.