Real Madrid secured a spot in the Champions League semifinals after defeating Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. The defending champions sealed their victory with a final aggregate score of 4-0, with Brazilian forward Rodrygo scoring a second-half brace.
Chelsea, who had a strong start in the first half, failed to maintain their momentum as Madrid slowly settled into the game and took control up until half-time. The second half saw Madrid dominate as Rodrygo scored his first goal in the 58th minute, capitalizing on a mistake from Chelsea's defence. His second goal came in the 72nd minute, effectively ending any hopes of a comeback for the English side.
This win marks Madrid's first return to the Champions League semifinals since 2018, where they were knocked out by eventual winners Liverpool. Meanwhile, Chelsea's loss marks their fourth consecutive defeat, a feat they have not experienced since 1993.
The victory comes as a welcome relief for Madrid, who have struggled with injuries and poor form in the domestic league. Despite being written off by some critics, they have shown their quality and experience in the Champions League, where they have excelled in recent years.
Madrid now await their opponents for the semifinals, where they will hope to add to their impressive record of 13 Champions League titles. Chelsea, on the other hand, will have to regroup and focus on securing a top-four finish in the Premier League to qualify for next year's tournament.
During the first half of the match, Marc Cucurella had an opportunity to score for Chelsea, but Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois managed to block his close-range shot, leaving the score tied at 0-0 going into halftime.
After the match, Courtois expressed his happiness about reaching the semifinals, noting that it is a difficult feat to accomplish. He also emphasized that the ultimate goal for the team is not just to make it to the semifinals, but to win the entire tournament.
Real Madrid's hopes of advancing to the next round were further solidified when Rodrygo scored shortly before the hour mark. The Brazilian forward expressed his excitement about his performance, noting that the Champions League is a special competition for him and that he hopes to continue scoring goals and helping his team win.
With this win, Real Madrid will now turn their attention to the upcoming semifinals, where they will face a challenging opponent. However, their impressive performance against Chelsea has shown that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level and potentially win their 14th Champions League title.
Rodrygo scored the opening goal for Real Madrid after a swift counter-attack against Chelsea, who have lost all four games since Frank Lampard returned as interim manager. He displayed impressive footwork, skipping past Trevoh Chalobah's challenge before eventually slotting the ball home after it was played back to him by fellow Brazilian international Vinicius Junior.
The closing stages of the match were almost academic, with Federico Valverde assisting Rodrygo's second goal. The second goal was the catalyst for a mass exodus of Chelsea fans from their home ground, as Real Madrid put on a dominant display.
Rodrygo expressed his pleasure in playing for Real Madrid, noting that they are the biggest team in the world. He added that it is almost an obligation for the team to reach the semifinals and finals and to win the Champions League. He praised the team's effort and performance, which has been consistent since he joined.
While Chelsea's season will end without a trophy, despite a £500 million pound ($621 million) outlay on new players under their new American owners, Real Madrid marches on with Ancelotti eyeing the trophy for a fifth time. Ancelotti acknowledged that the team had to suffer in the match but was happy with the result, noting that the team had a good level and was solid at the back.
Real Madrid's victory over Chelsea came with one setback, as defender Eder Militao picked up a yellow card that will force him to sit out the first leg of the semifinals due to accumulation of bookings. Despite the blow, manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Militao's performance, stating that he had a "spectacular game at the back". Ancelotti also expressed his hope that David Alaba would be back to fill the void left by Militao's suspension.
Madrid will likely face Manchester City in the semifinals, who currently hold a 3-0 lead over Bayern Munich in their quarterfinal tie with one leg to play. While it will be a tough test for Madrid, the team will be confident after their dominant display against Chelsea and their track record of success in the Champions League. Madrid has won the competition a record 13 times, and Ancelotti will be eyeing his fifth title as a manager.
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