BENZEMA BREAKS BLUE'S HEARTS IN EXTRA TIME

Karim Benzema crushed Chelsea's Champions League hopes with the winning header in extra time. Chelsea completed the comeback but couldn't hold on to see out the game. The final score was 2-3 (5-4 aggregate) meaning Real Madrid progress to the semi-finals.

Real Madrid and Chelsea. Two giants in the football world. The reigning champions against the 13-time winners. What a night it was, with the first game at Stamford Bridge ending in a comfortable 3-1 victory for Los Blancos, surely it would have been another straight forward win at the Bernabéu.

Mason Mount fired Chelsea back into the tie early on in the game. His curled shot from 15 yards left Courtois helplessly outstretched in his goal. The Blues created a number of chances in the first half, although they went down the tunnel at half time with only a 1-0 lead, still trailing by one goal on aggregate (3-2).

Tuchel's men begun the second half as they had the first, Rudiger blasted his header past Courtois, levelling the overall score. Shortly afterwards Alonso put Chelsea ahead, however his goal was quickly ruled out for a handball. That didn't matter though as in the 75th minute Timo Werner scored a goal not made for the highlight reel, but a goal nevertheless, and a goal that would be instrumental in the fixture.

Real looked down and out, all 11 men were in shock as to how they'd managed to throw away their comfortable lead, until Casemiro was replaced by Brazilian prospect Rodrygo. It only took him 2 minutes to drag Madrid back into the game with a caressed volley towards the near post.

Rodrygo's goal took the game to extra-time, the score was 4-4 on aggregate. Half way through the first period of extra time, who else but Karim Benzema scored when it mattered. The Frenchman placed the perfect header past Mendy, a goal which decided the game.

A night full of goals and full of emotions, a classic Champions League night!

Mount finish opens up the game

15 minutes. That's all it took for this historic tie to turn into anyone's game. It was a perfect start for Chelsea, Mason Mount received the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box, his first touch took him into the box where the Englishman dispatched an assured right-footed finish past Courtois.

Timo Werner got the assist, but all of the Blue's side were to thank due to the endless pressing that forced a mistake out of Real. Mount finished it off, curling the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. There was still a long way to go in this fixture, but a strike like that was a step in the right direction.

Level in the tie

At the break it was 0-1 Chelsea on the night (3-2 aggregate), deservedly so as they had dominated possession and created many chances. Ancelotti would have been grateful for the half time whistle as his side weren't performing to the standards they are capable of.

Both teams came out for the second half and it was more of the same: Chelsea continued to pile the pressure on Real. They got their second goal of the evening to bring the score level on aggregate. There was however some controversy around the goal.

Szymon Marciniak controversially gave a corner ball to Chelsea after Reece James' volley attempt skewed wide. There was no touch from a Real defender, although a corner was still given to Chelsea.

Los Blancos lost focus as the corner was taken by Mason Mount and Rudiger was allowed a free header in the box, a header of which he blasted into the bottom right corner. Chelsea had now bought the score to 3-3 over both legs. Chelsea refused to allow their Champions League reign to end.

VAR rules out Alonso goal

A massive moment in the tie occurred in the 63rd minute; Alonso believed he'd written himself into the Chelsea history books as he fired them into the lead. A powerful right-footed volley flew into the top corner.

Unfortunately for the Spaniard, his beautiful goal was refused by VAR due to a slight handball. Marcos Alonso handled the ball after his first attempt on goal was denied by Carvajal. It was a minute touch, but a handball nonetheless. Score remained 0-2 on the night, 3-3 over both legs.

Benzema rattles the crossbar

Moments after Marcos Alonso's goal was ruled out, Real Madrid went up the other end and almost got a goal of their own. With only 25 minutes remaining of normal time, Real had finally created their first major opportunity of the game.

Ferland Mendy drove down the left wing, then lofted the ball into the box. The full back found Benzema waiting eagerly at the back post. The talisman directed his header back across goal and strikes the crossbar. Edouard Mendy was rooted to the spot; a few inches lower and the Frenchman would have given his side the advantage.

Chelsea complete mission impossible

They've done it! Against all odds at the Bernabeu, Chelsea had overcome the 2-goal deficit and put themselves ahead. What a night in the Champions League!

Timo Werner had been making impressive runs all evening; finally Kovacic picked him out. Werner beat Carvajal in the box to create an angle for himself - the Spaniard was left for dead as he fell to the ground.

Not the prettiest of finishes from Chelsea's number 11 but he won't have cared. The ball slowly trickled past Courtois and both defenders on the line. This might have been a defining moment in Chelsea's UCL campaign. Comeback complete!

Huge save to keep Real in it

The Blues so nearly put the game to bed with a remarkable header in the 78th minute. Unfortunately for Thomas Tuchel's side, a save just as remarkable followed.

Another corner for Chelsea saw them win the ball in the air, Real had been beaten to every header. Havertz is the Chelsea man who makes contact with the whipping cross. He sent a bullet header flying towards the goal, despite this, Courtois somehow kept it out.

The Chelsea fans were already up and celebrating, but the former Chelsea man had other ideas.

Super sub for Real Madrid

Young winger Rodrygo was bought on for Casemiro in the 78th minute, by the 80th he had saved his side with a fantastic goal to bring the aggregate score to 4-4.

Luka Modric claimed the assists with one of the best passes you'll see all season. The Ballon d'Or winner found Rodrygo with the outside of his boot. Thiago Silva couldn't reach the pass; it fell straight into the path of Rodrygo. The Brazilian took on the shot first time - one of his first touches of the game - and drew his side level.

Mendy could only stare in awe as the ball flew past him, planted to the spot, as he conceded a game-changing goal. 1-3 on the night, 4-4 on aggregate.

Karim Benzema shatters Chelsea hearts

Who else but Mr Inevitable! Karim Benzema got his goal in the tie; it was only a matter of time until the Frenchman got on the score-sheet.

Vinicius Jr whipped in a cross with his left foot after Kante lost possession for Chelsea in the middle of the park. Mendy was unable to shift his body weight across to Benzema's guided header. The net bulged; he'd done it again.

In the opening minutes of extra time Benzema caused the Bernabéu to erupt, they couldn't believe it.

Los Blancos are in the semis

After 120 minutes of football, an incredible footballing display came to a close, both sets of players fell to their knees as Szymon Marciniak blew for full time. 11 players over the moon, 11 others devastated.

Chelsea looked out before they walked onto the turf, however showed great character to fight their way back into the game and eventually take the lead on aggregate. Chelsea were brilliant, Mount kick started the affair with his curling effort, Rudiger doubled their lead, and they thought they were through when Timo Werner's strike dribbled over the goal line.

Real Madrid got back into the game when Modric's spectacular pass was turned goal-wards by Rodrygo. Benzema scored his 38th goal of the season, in the first period of extra-time, breaking blue hearts. Real's talisman had once again sent them through to the next round of the Champions League; the reigning champions Chelsea crash out of the competition.

A Champions League classic, what a night!

What's Next?

Next match report = Brighton U23s vs Chelsea U23s

Monday 25th April 7pm

Line-ups:

Real Madrid – (4-3-3) Courtois, Mendy (Marcelo 78’), Alaba, Nacho (Vazquez 88’), Carvajal, Kroos (Camavinga 73’), Casemiro (Rodrygo 78’), Modric, Valverde, Vinicius Jr (Ceballos 115’), Benzema

Bookings - Benzema (37’), Valverde (68’), Camavinga (90+1), Carvajal (118’)

Scorers - Rodrygo (80’), Benzema (96’)

Chelsea – (4-3-1-2) Mendy, Alonso, Rudiger, Thiago Silva, James, Kante (Ziyech 100’), Loftus-Cheek (Saul 105’), Kovacic (Jorginho 105’), Mount, Havertz, Werner (Pulisic 83’)

Bookings - Reece James (10’), Ziyech (102’), Havertz (109’), Tuchel (113’), Azpilicueta (113’)

Scorers – Mount (15’), Rudiger (51’), Werner (75’)

Referee: Szymon Marciniak

Attendance: 59,839

MOTM: Mason Mount

Written by Isabelle Newnham