MADRID: Holders Real Madrid were dominant in their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Chelsea but they take ‘only’ a two-goal lead to Stamford Bridge next week.

Karim Benzema scored yet again for Los Blancos, opening the scoring in the first half with his seventh goal in his last four matches, before Ben Chilwell was sent off early in the second.

Substitute Marco Asensio scored just minutes after coming on to double Madrid’s lead, but the story of the night for Chelsea was again a lack of cutting edge in attack.

Chelsea were happy to have Thiago Silva back in the centre of defence after injury but they were still caught out by a simple chip over the top in the 21st minute from Dani Carvajal.

Vinicius Junior was first to the ball and though Kepa’s left hand blocked the shot Benzema was following up for his sixth goal in five Champions matches against Chelsea. It was the Madrid captain’s 26th goal of the season in all competitions. His last 11 Champions League goals had all been against English teams.

Chelsea sought to respond immediately but Courtois saved well from Raheem Sterling and Madrid were foiled on the transition only by Silva’s goal-line clearance from Vinicius.

Madrid dominated the next 10 minutes but without extending their lead. Kepa saved an acute-angled shot from Rodrygo, low drives from Benzema and Federico Valverde as well as a glancing header from David Alaba.

Chelsea suffered a further setback in the 59th minute when Ben Chilwell was sent off for pulling back Rodrygo, racing in on goal. Madrid capitalised in the 74th minugte when newly-arrived substitute Marco Asensio shot through a forest of legs after a left-wing corner.

In all the circumstances a two-goal defeat was almost a ‘moral victory’ for Chelsea and their new/old manager.

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