What a game ! But what a game, please! At first amorphous and dominated then suddenly emerging from its torpor, Real Madrid came back from hell to overthrow Chelsea and qualify (despite the defeat) after the suspense and extra time, for the 31st semi-finals in its history in the League Champions (2-3).
But how hard was it! Because, frankly, few Madrid supporters expected to experience such an evening after the recital of the first leg, won 1-3 at Stamford Bridge.
But perhaps too presumptuous, Real was taken by the throat by the Blues, suddenly more dashing, incisive and visibly determined to switch on the mode comeback. A comeback that took shape, tirelessly, reducing the Santiago Bernabeu to an almost mortuary silence: Mount, Rudiger et Werner. London’s trio of goalscorers look unusual but the Blues don’t care. By scoring three times, once before the break and then twice in the second half, they virtually go ahead.
3 goals and three blows for one real Madrid helpless, virtually eliminated and clueless. But the tension is palpable. Everyone knows it, a small Madrid goal and the 22 players go into extra time.
But who ? Who to plant this goal of hope? Benzema well muzzled, the solution must come from the feet of another Madrid tsar: Luka Modric and his enchanted straight shoe. With a monumental outside of the foot, the Croatian puts Rodrygo on velvet. The one-time recovery of the ex-future Madrid prodigy is perfect, Mendy is beaten 1-3. Extensions!
And as if the script for this crazy scenario was written in advance, who else but Karim Benzema, finally out of the infernal marking of the Blues, to deliver a Real Madrid back from hell? He, the Madrid hero, the possible future Ballon d’Or, triple scorer in the first leg but frankly unhappy so far in this meeting, who suddenly raises his carcass higher than the London defense to send Real Madrid to paradise. A paradise, in which Thibaut Courtois also wanted to believe, who intervenes in boss mode before Judge Zyiech to save his Merengue in the last moments.
It’s cruel, very cruel for a huge Chelsea who will have believed in it until the end. But we have to admit that if this Real Madrid, scratched Ancelotti, is not always beautiful to see playing, he has a monstrous heart. And unimaginable pride. After PSG, it was the Blues who paid the price…