Real Madrid, the European champions, defeated 10 players at home to Chelsea, 2-0, in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, on Wednesday.
The royal team’s victory came thanks to a good follow-up from Karim Benzema and a powerful shot by substitute Marco Asensio.
Benzema scored Chelsea at the same stage of the competition last season.
In the 21st minute, Dani Carvajal played a pass from the right side into the penalty area, and Vinicius Jr. received it with a direct shot, which was blocked by goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with great difficulty, to rebound and find a follow-up from Benzema with an easy shot into the net.
Chelsea came close to scoring in the first half through Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling, but Thibaut Courtois, who was playing against his former team, saved the situation.
The London team’s attempts to return to the match suffered a major setback in the 59th minute, when Ben Chilwell received a direct red card for blocking Rodrigo while the Brazilian was on his way to the goal.
And just 3 minutes after substitute Asensio came down, the Spanish international scored a goal with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area.
This victory at the “Santiago Bernabeu” stadium gave the 14-time European champions an advantage ahead of the second leg at “Stamford Bridge” on April 18.