Real Madrid defeated Chelsea and Milan beat Napoli in the battle of the Italian clubs. The places in the semi-finals of the Champions League will be decided in the second legs to be played in a week.
Matti Lehtisaari,
STT Sports
Real Madrid was too tough for Chelsea at home in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Real won Wednesday’s match 2–0.
Karim Benzema scored the opening goal in the 21st minute and Marco Asensio hit in the 74th minute. Asensio had been replaced on the field just three minutes before his success. Chelsea had to play the last half hour undermanned when Ben Chilwell received a red card in the 59th minute.
The goal was the 26th of the season for Real’s experienced top scorer, Benzema, who is playing a great season again, including all competitions. The man has been in great shape since the turn of the year, because after the World Cup break he has completed 20 hits.
Chelsea, who have been struggling in the Premier League through the season, will have enough work to do next Tuesday at their own Stamford Bridge stadium in order to secure a place in the semi-finals. However, the hope in the Blues’ camp may be raised that the performance for the guests at the always difficult Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid was not too bad.
Milan is barely better than Napoli
In the expected meeting between the Italian clubs, Milan beat Napoli 1–0. Algerian midfielder Ismael Bennacer scored Milan’s winning goal in the 40th minute.
Napoli dominated for long periods, putting AC Milan in a tight spot. However, after Bennacer’s goal, the home team got a hold. of Naples Andre-Frank Zambo in Angui flew into the shower in the 74th minute.
Napoli will be excited for next Tuesday’s home match, whether the team’s goalscorer, who has been on the sidelines for the last few weeks due to injury, will have time Victor Osimhen to recover to playing condition for the decisive encounter.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE / SEMI-FINALS, 1ST ROUNDS
Real Madrid-Chelsea 2–0 (1–0)
21. Benzema 1–0
74. Asensio 2–0
Out: 59. Ben Chillwell (Chelsea)
Milan-Napoli 1–0 (1–0)
40. Bennacer 1–0
Exit: 74. Andre-Frank Zambo in Angui (Naples)