Well… let’s just say few would’ve predicted that Wednesday afternoon of UEFA Champions League.
Karim Benzema can definitely do it on a rainy night in London, as the French center forward recorded a hat trick as Real Madrid feasted on Chelsea errors and benefited from poor Blues finishing in a 3-1 win.
Benzema bosses Blues backs, Chelsea wasteful in attack
This is not how Thomas Tuchel drew it up.
Karim Benzema scored a pair of first-half goals and completed his hat trick in the second half as Real Madrid rode a 2-1 first-half lead and will take a 3-1 advantage back to Madrid.
This wasn’t the case of supreme domination from La Liga’s leaders, as Chelsea out-attempted Real by more than double but learned what Europe’s seen on a weekly basis: Benzema’s as dominant as any forward In the world right now and that includes names like Mbappe and Kane.
Huge errors from Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger, and Edouard Mendy will live in Chelsea fans’ minds deep into the night, but Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech missed huge chances off the bench on a day the European champions will want to forget as quickly as possible.
The Blues will be grateful that away goals don’t matter this season, but toppling Real by two goals at the Bernabeu will be a major ask next week.
Chelsea vs Real Madrid final score, stats
Chelsea 1, Real Madrid 3
Scorers: Benzema (21′, 24′, 46′), Havertz (40′)
Shot attempts: Chelsea 20, Real Madrid 8
Shots on goal: Chelsea 5, Real Madrid 5
Possession: Chelsea 57, Real Madrid 43