Real Madrid loves suspense this season in the Champions League. And above all, surpass yourself by finding resources when all is lost. The Spaniards had already made it in the round of 16 against PSG by scoring 3 goals by Karim Benzema in the last half hour of the return match. This time they still survived an evening which promised to be terrible in view of Chelsea’s incredible match and qualified for the last four of the C1 where they will face Manchester City or their neighbor Atlético de Madrid ( 1-0 on the way).
Transformed compared to the quarter-final first leg (1-3), the reigning European champion led by his captain N’Golo Kanté, confiscated the ball from the Merengues at the start of the match and logically opened the scoring following a half-volley from Mason Mount well served by Timo Werner (0-1, 13th). Unable to raise their level of play, Real Madrid was punished on returning from the locker room on a corner taken from the head by the German Antonio Rüdiger (0-2, 51st) before being saved by the VAR after a goal from Alonso marred by a slight hand fault (0-2, 61st).
Le Benzema show
Author of two hat-tricks in the last two Champions League matches against PSG then Chelsea, Karim Benzema saw his head hit the crossbar of Étienne Mendy (66th). In steamroller mode, Chelsea scored the goal of virtual qualification on a personal feat by Timo Werner who ridiculed the Madrid defenders (0-3, 75th). On the verge of knockout, Real finds resources. Thanks to a bright pass from Modric, Rodrigo reduced the score with a volley that beat Courtois (1-3, 80′).
Then it’s the Karim Benzema show during extra time. The tricolor striker took advantage of a good serve from Vinicius to catapult the leather into the back of the nets of Étienne Mendy (2-3, 96th). An oh so precious goal synonymous with qualifying his team for the semi-finals of the C1. On a personal note, the native of Bron is even heading straight for the Ballon d’Or 2022 because his main competitor, the Pole Robert Lewandowski, was eliminated with Bayern Munich in the other quarter-final against Villarreal (1 -1, 0-1 on the way).