Vinicius, Benzema lead Real Madrid past Chelsea 2-0 in Champions League
Updated On: 13 April, 2023 10:10 AM IST | Madrid | AP
It was a second consecutive defeat for new Chelsea interim manager Frank Lampard after he replaced Graham Potter amid the team`s disappointing results. The second leg is next week at Stamford Bridge
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Real Madrid`s French forward Karim Benzema heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Chelsea FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. Pic/AFP
Karim Benzema struck yet again against Chelsea, and Real Madrid is a step closer to eliminating the English club for the second straight season in the Champions League. Vinicius Junior thrived with two assists and Marco Asensio also scored in Madrid`s 2-0 win in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Wednesday in the latest meeting between the last two European champions. Chelsea played the final half-hour with 10 men after Ben Chilwell was sent off for stopping a Madrid breakaway. It was a second consecutive defeat for new Chelsea interim manager Frank Lampard after he replaced Graham Potter amid the team`s disappointing results. The second leg is next week at Stamford Bridge.
AC Milan defeated Napoli 1-0 in the other quarterfinal match on Wednesday. Benzema scored his sixth goal in five matches against Chelsea by hitting the open net off the rebound of a save by Kepa Arrizabalaga after an attempt by Vinicius from close range in the 22nd minute at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Benzema had scored four times against Chelsea in the last-eight last season, including the decisive goal in extra time in the second leg in Madrid. He had a hat trick in the first leg in London. The French veteran has scored 20 goals in 27 matches against English opposition. His last 14 goals in the competition have come in the knockout stage. Asencio netted the second in the 74th after another assist by Vinicius, who kept the Chelsea defense in trouble during most of the match with his quick runs and nifty dribbles. The 22-year-old Brazilian was named the game`s most valuable player. "We played very well. It was one of our best matches of the season," Vinicius said.
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