Real Madrid vs Chelsea final score, result, highlights from Champions League as Benzema and Asensio punish 10-man Blues

Dom Farrell

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Real Madrid vs Chelsea final score, result, highlights from Champions League as Benzema and Asensio punish 10-man Blues image

Real Madrid took another step towards defending their Champions League crown with a 2-0 win over 10-man Chelsea at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Karim Benzema, who netted four times over the course of last season's meeting with Chelsea at the same stage, converted from close range in the 21st minute after Kepa Arrizabalaga saved from Vinicius Junior.

Chelsea, languishing 11th in the Premier League, carried a frequent threat on the break. Joao Felix passed up a second-minute opportunity and Thibaut Courtois made a superb reaction stop to deny Raheem Sterling shortly after Benzema's opener.

But the task became far steeper for Frank Lampard's side when Ben Chilwell pulled back Rodrygo when the Brazilian winger was through on goal just before the hour. Substitute Marco Asensio doubled the advantage in the 74th minute to put the 14-time European champions in a commanding position ahead of next week’s return fixture in London.

Real Madrid vs. Chelsea final score

  1H 2H Final
RMA 1 1 2
CHE 0 0 0

Goals:

RMA — Karim Benzema — 22nd minute.

RMA — Marco Asensio (Vinicius Junior) — 74th minute.

MORE: UEFA Champions League bracket predictions 2023

On-loan Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix was granted a couple of early openings as the hosts were careless in possession on halfway. He could not take advantage and soon had a lesson in being clinical from Benzema.

Dani Carvajal aimed a delicate ball over the top of the Chelsea defence and Vinicius got there ahead of Wesley Fofana to prod goalwards. Benzema was left to tap into an empty net for his 26th and most straightforward goal of the campaign.

Chelsea almost hit back instantly as Sterling benefitted from N’Golo Kante and Reece James combining down the right. He didn’t make entirely clean contact but it still needed supreme work from Courtois to turn behind.

Marc Cucurella had only been on the field in place of the injured Kalidou Koulibaly for five minutes by the time Rodrygo darted in behind him. Chilwell was forced into a desperate challenge that ended his evening.

Only shipping one more goal represented a success of sorts for Lampard’s men, although they were too passive as Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Vinicius worked a short corner for Rodrygo’s replacement Asensio to drill past an unsighted Kepa.

On a night of familiar faces and reunions, former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger made a brilliant last-ditch challenge in stoppage time as fellow substitute Mason Mount eyed a reduced deficit. 

Vinicius Junior proves his worth to Real Madrid again

Madrid have an enviable cast of experienced Champions League campaigners, from the masterful Benzema to peerless midfield duo Kroos and Modric. But the man who scored the winner in last year’s final was once again a standout performer.

From the moment Vinicius coaxed Wesley Fofana into a fifth-minute booking Chelsea were up against it.

Fofana endured a torrid time against the Brazil star, who also posed rarely seen questions of James.

Vinicius had 19 touches inside the opposition box over the course of the contest. All the other players on the field managed 23 between them.

Joao Felix highlights Chelsea’s biggest problem

Chelsea are now winless in five games and without a goal in four. For all the talk of them battling to keep the tie alive, recent form suggests Madrid have already scored at least one more goal than they need.

Even in the opening 10 minutes, when Chelsea acquitted themselves well, their attacking timidity was on show. Joao Felix was effectively through on goal but could not shake Eder Militao and Courtois’ eventual save was of the routine variety.

The twinkled-toed Portugal international then failed to pick out Sterling when Kante engineered another promising turnover. In the eighth minute, Sterling won a free-kick in a dangerous crossing position that Chilwell booted wastefully over the crossbar. In every aspect, Chelsea’s end product is well short of where it needs to be

Asensio masterstroke another success for cup master Ancelotti

Real Madrid flailing 13 points behind Barcelona in LaLiga means this is the latest of many unsatisfactory league campaigns in Carlo Ancelotti’s esteemed career. In knockout football, however, he retains an intrinsic feel for the occasion.

Asensio’s introduction looked unusual, given Rodrygo had engineered Chilwell’s downfall. But the Spain international was instantly up to the pace of the game, won the corner from which he scored and almost fired in another from distance. Carlo knows.

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Lineups:

Real Madrid (4-3-3): 1-Thibaut Courtois (GK) — 2-Dani Carvajal, 3-Eder Militao, 4-David Alaba, 12-Edouard Camavinga — 15-Federico Valverde, 8-Toni Kroos, 10-Luka Modric — 21-Rodrygo, 9-Karim Benzema, 20- Vinicius Junior

Chelsea (5-3-2): 1-Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK) — 24-Reece James, 33-Wesley Fofana, 6-Thiago Silva (19-Mason Mount), 26-Kalidou Koulibaly (32-Marc Cucurella), 21-Ben Chilwell — 7-N'Golo Kante (23-Conor Gallagher), 5-Enzo Fernandez, 8-Mateo Kovacic — 17-Raheem Sterling (29-Kai Havertz) , 11-Joao Felix (14-Trevoh Chalobah)

Real Madrid vs. Chelsea as it happened, highlights from the Champions League

Fulltime: Chelsea showed no little grit and determination to restrict Madrid to a 2-0 win after Chilwell's red card and remain in the tie ahead of the return at Stamford Bridge. However, let's be honest, given Chelsea's problems in front of goal this season, the reigning champions might already have two goals too many. It's advantage Ancelotti and Madrid. Thanks for joining us this evening.

90th minute+3: Big chance for Mason Mount! The Chelsea substitute gets the ball out of his feet with a brilliant first touch, only for former team-mate Rudiger to get back and make a fantastic block. That was probably a goal-saving challenge.

90th minute+2: Oh dear, Kepa. The Chelsea goalkeeper, who has put in an assured performance this evening, punches Alaba's cross straight at Benzema but the star striker does not have much time to react and heads over.

90th minute: We'll have five minutes of stoppage time.

87th minute: Carvajal now gets booked for dragging Cucurella back. This is needlessly ratty from Madrid, who appear to have lost all momentum in search of a tie-sealing third.

84th minute: Militao is booked for an unceremonious barge into Cucurella. Asensio is back to head the free-kick away. Toni Kroos has departed to a standing ovation and Aurelien Tchouameni is on.

79th minute: Asensio lets fly, from a little further out this time, and his attempt scoots past Kepa's near post.

75th minute: Hmmm, this is bold. Lamaprd is chucking on Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher so appears to be going for it a little. Thiago Silva comes off and doesn't look especially pleased, but he must be feeling this after six weeks out.

74th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Marco Asensio!!!!!

The substitution does the trick for Carlo Ancelotti. The corner is worked tidily towards Asensio by Modric, Kroos and Vinicius Jr. The Spain international's low strike nips through Fofana's legs to leave Courtois with little chance. 

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73rd minute: Cucarella does well, clearing behind with Asensio in close attendance.

71st minute: Marco Asensio is coming on for Rodrygo and ex-Chelsea man Antonio Rudiger replaces Eduardo Camavinga, which hardly screams "going for it" against 10 men, although Camavinga is on a yellow. A reshaped Madrid team have a corner to defend. Rudiger is straight into the action and heads clear.

69th minute: Kovacic carelessly gives the ball away - you can't be doing that in your own half with 10 men. Chalobah's first major involvement is a good one as he tidily dispossesses Rodrygo in the box.

64th minute: Starting front two Sterling and Joao Felix are the men to make way, with Lampard reverting to a back five once more. James and Cucurella are the wing-backs with Fofana, Silva and Chalobah completing the backline.

62nd minute: Chelsea have switched to a 4-4-1 setup, with Kante and Sterling on the right and left of midfield respectively. Kai Havertz and Trevoh Chalobah are getting ready to come on, presumably for Joao Felix and Fofana.

61st minute: Alaba hits it low, Kepa reads it and holds on.

60th minute: Benzema has a good look at the free-kick, which is right on the edge of the box. He leaves it to Alaba.

59th minute: BEN CHILWELL IS SENT OFF! Simple decision for the referee as Chilwell gets caught the wrong side of Rodrygo and hauls him down. A monumentally difficult task for Chelsea from this point.

58th minute: Rodrygo gets a chance to try and attack Chelsea centrally. He aims a pass for Benzema but Fofana, almost an hour on from that early booking, cuts it out.

54th minute: It looks like Koulibaly might have injured himself in that dart back to deny Rodrygo. Marc Cucurella is getting ready to come on.

52nd minute: Benzema gets in between Chelsea's centre-backs but Silva is typically cool and toes it back to Kepa.

50th minute: Vinicius goes scooting past Reece James to the byline. His pull-back finds Benzema, who tees up Modric. That's a sumptuous curling effort that ripples the top of the netting.

49th minute: Koulibaly is caught out by a rudimentary punt over the top from Courtois. Rodrygo looks like he might be in but the Chelsea defender makes up for his lapse by getting back to outmuscle the winger.

48th minute: Some neat triangles on the edge of the Madrid box from Chelsea before Joao Felix digs out a shot that Courtois holds.

46th minute: Back underway, no changes for either side. Camavinga plays a dicey ball across his own half that Joao Felix almost intercepts.

Halftime: There were good moments in those 45 minutes for Chelsea, especially early on. But Karim Benzema scored against a Premier League team because that's just what he does and it feels like Madrid might have some more gears to go through. Come back and join us in a short while to find out whether they do.

44th minute: Valverde gets on the move towards the Chelsea box. He strikes well but it's straight at Kepa.

41st minute: Problems for Chelsea as Madrid again isolate Fofana up against Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian makes a mess of his cross, though, clumping it way beyond an expectant Benzema.

40th minute: Kepa does well to hold a glancing effort from Alaba. He had to, given Benzema was on the spot for another tap-in if granted the opportunity.

37th minute: James gets around the outside of Camavinga. He can't quite shake him though and drives a cross into Courtois' arms. At the other end there's a slick link-up between Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo but the flag goes up.

34th minute: Starting to feel like hard work for Chelsea, who can't seem to build any sustained periods of possession. Madrid are turning the screw.

28th minute: Lovely turn by Joao Felix, who glides towards goal. Carvajal stands firm and blocks his low drive.

26th minute: Incredible from Thiago Silva! Oof, it's all happening now. Vinicius befuddled poor Fofana and goes past the Chelsea defender. He dinks towards the net but Thiago gets back to boot out of the goalmouth and deny his young compatriot.

23rd minute: Almost 1-1! Brilliant response from Chelsea, with Kante to the fore once again. He releases James, whose low cross is met left-footed by Sterling at the near post. There's a bit of a deflection of Militao too, meaning Courtois's reaction stop down to his left is of the highest quality.

22nd minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Karim Benzema!!!!!

Who else? Madrid's main man won't score many easier than that. Kepa saves as Vinicius gets to Carvajal's clever lofted pass ahead of Fofana to leave Benzema with a tap-in.

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18th minute: Vinicius sizes up Fofana but, with the help of Kante, the young defender does well.

17th minute: Some careless play from Fernandez allows Valverde to snaffle the ball. It sits up for a shot but the Uruguay star skews well wide from beyond 25 yards.

16th minute: Down goes Vinicius in the Chelsea area with Fofana in close attendance. It seemed as though he was looking for that and the referee agrees. No penalty.

14th minute: Koulibaly gets up to clear a Modric corner. Madrid work the ball right to Carvajal but Kepa comes to claim his cross authoritatively. That's a good couple of initial involvements for the Chelsea goalkeeper, who might become increasingly busy as the night progresses.

12th minute: That's more like where Benzema wants to be. He plays a one-two with Vinicius inside the Chelsea box and Kepa is able to grasp his shot at the near post.

11th minute: Carvajal is tucking inside to bolster Madrid's attacks down the right. He lays off to Benzema, who has a speculative long-ranger blocked by Silva.

8th minute: Chilwell gets that horribly wrong and mashes the delivery over the crossbar. Despite the encouraging signs, if you were to be critical, you'd have to say that a goal-shy Chelsea side have already let three good opportunities slip by.

7th minute: Another big early tick for Chelsea. Sterling pulls out to the right and likes the look of Camavinga. The makeshift left-back brings the England forward down and is booked. This is also a free-kick in a very good position.

5th minute: Fofana is booked for a foul on Vinicius. Could be a long 85 minutes ahead for him.

4th minute: Again Kante snaffles the ball around halfway and Chelsea stream forward. The Frenchman finds Joao Felix, whose low cross aimed for Sterling at the far post is cleared. Encouraging early signs for the visitors.

2nd minute: Big chance for Chelsea! Joao Felix has the entire Madrid half to stretch his legs. Militao does well to keep him company and Courtois turns the shot behind. Ancelotti is furious at his team coughing up that sort of opening.

1st minute: We're underway and Chelsea are instantly into a fairly compact shape behind the ball. Benzema and Vinicius link up before the former feels a meaty challenge from Koulibaly.

2 mins from kickoff: Also time for a hug between Ancelotti and Lampard, formerly coach and star player at Stamford Bridge, of course. Here's the competition anthem. Sing along if you must.

4 mins from kickoff: The teams are in the tunnel and we're almost ready to go. Croatia teammates Kovacic and Modric share a hug.

15 mins from kickoff: This is Madrid and Chelsea's third meeting in as many seasons in the Champions League. The winner of the previous two ties has gone on to win the competition. It's unlikely they meet next year.... unless Chelsea go through and somehow win the whole thing.

30 mins from kickoff: What unfolds down the Chelsea right/Madrid left could be key to deciding the outcome here. Reece James is arguably the visitors' most accomplished player at the moment and attacks very effectively from right wing-back.  The England international could certainly find makeshift left-back Edouard Camavinga to his liking. On the other hand, Camavinga will look to combine with Vinicius Junior and overwhelm James and Wesley Fofana on the right-hand side of the Chelsea defence.

45 mins from kickoff: Thiago Silva has not played since hobbling out of Chelsea's defeat at Tottenham in late February but we are going to be treated to a battle between two old masters as the 38-year-old Brazilian returns to try and shackle Karim Benzema. Experience is a running theme in Lampard's selection, from N'Golo Kante making a first Champions League appearance after a long lay-off to Sterling starting in the front two.

1 hr 10 mins from kickoff: This is what Real Madrid look like in what is almost certainly their familiar 4-3-3. Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior flank Karim Benzema in a devastating front three.

1 hr 15 mins from kickoff: Here's the Chelsea team. It looks like Lampard has gone for a 5-3-2 setup, with Raheem Sterling returning to the starting XI to partner Joao Felix in attack.

1 hr 20 mins from kickoff: Being a distant second in their domestic league is a the sort of problem Chelsea would chop your arm off for right now. A lavishly upholstered squad is 11th in the Premier League table and the presence of club great Lampard should stave off a fan mutiny if nothing else. The battling 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their last-16 tie suggested a corner turned and was one of three consecutive wins across all competitions. The Blues have now gone winless in four and face a tall task tonight.

1 hr 40 mins from kickoff: Madrid slumped to a 3-2 home defeat against Villarreal at the weekend and are now a distant 13 points behind Barcelona in LaLiga. But, as their astonishing run to glory last season showed, this competition does something to this famous old club. 

2 hours from kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' coverage of the big battle between the two former Everton managers... Real Madrid vs. Chelsea in the Champions League!

Real Madrid vs. Chelsea lineups

Karim Benzema looked in the mood to repeat last season's Champions League heroics with back-to-back hat-tricks against Valladolid and Barcelona, although he was withdrawn with an hour played in the 3-2 weekend defeat at home to Villarreal.

Ferland Mendy is still sidelined for Ancelotti's side with a calf problem, meaning a start for Eduardo Camavinga at left-back. David Alaba played the first half against Villarreal and starts again as he seeks to manage a muscular problem.

Real Madrid predicted lineup (4-3-3): Courtois (GK) — Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Camavinga — Valverde, Kroos, Modric — Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Benoit Badiashile and Noni Madueke are all not included in Chelsea's Champions League squad, while Armando Broja is out for the remainder of the season. 

That shortfall in attack is part of the reason for Raheem Sterling partnering Joao Felix up front, while Lampard has opted for the added security of a five-man defence, with Thiago Silva fit to start.

Chelsea lineup (5-3-2): Kepa (GK) — James, Fofana,Silva Koulibaly, Chilwell — Kante, Fernandez, Kovacic — Sterling, Felix

MORE: Real Madrid vs Chelsea, starting 11 and latest team news for Champions League quarterfinal 1st leg

How to watch Real Madrid vs. Chelsea

  Date Kickoff time TV channel Streaming
Australia Thu, Apr. 13 05:00 AEST — Stan Sport
Canada Wed, Apr. 12 15:00 ET — DAZN
Hong Kong Thu, Apr. 13 03:00 HKT beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect
India Thu, Apr. 13 00:30 IST Sony TEN 2 JioTV, Sony LIV
Malaysia Thu, Apr. 13 03:00 MYT beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect,
sooka
New Zealand Thu, Apr. 13 07:00 NZST — Spark Sport
Singapore Thu, Apr. 13 03:00 SGT beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect,
StarHubTV+
UK Wed, Apr. 12 20:00 BST BT Sport 1 BT Sport site/app
USA Wed, Apr. 12 15:00 ET CBS,
Univision,
TUDN		 Fubo,
Paramount+,
ViX+, TUDN app/website

UK: The match will be broadcast on BT Sport 1 and streamed on BT Sport platforms.

USA: This match will be televised on CBS (English) and on Univision and TUDN (Spanish), with each broadcast streamed on Fubo. Paramount+ will also carry the English-language stream for subscribers, as will ViX+ in Spanish.

Canada: Every Champions League game streams live on DAZN.

Australia: Every UEFA Champions League match streams ad-free on Stan Sport, live and on demand.

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.