Real Madrid have secured their place in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the second year in a row. Goals from Rodrygo Goes and Karim Benzema were enough to see Madrid zoom past Chelsea in a near comeback for the holders.
Full match player ratings below:
Thibaut Courtois—7: Showed some impressive footwork in this match, including a cutback to disappoint Havertz. Strong in his distribution and made 4 saves from inside the box.
Dani Carvajal—7: A few heart-in-mouth moments with a couple of his passes back to Courtois but otherwise a strong shift. Had to play as a central defender in the last 30 minutes of the game and arguably played his best minutes in that position.
Nacho—4: A poor performance from the former Spain international. Made too many gambles that didn’t pay off – including a gamble on the first goal Chelsea scored.
David Alaba—6.5: Like Nacho, he had some untimely aggressive strides to throw the defensive line out of shape but found his way back into the match, keeping Havertz and Loftus Cheek calm.
Ferland Mendy—4: He may not have been fully fit for this game and his performance suffered as a result. Was caught on the ball and lucky not to be penalized as VAR ruled out Chelsea’s third goal.
Casemiro—5: Tuchel changed his system and Casemiro didn’t have the same clout as in the first leg.
Fede Valverde—7: As the game progressed and transitions increased, tired legs increased and the overall chaotic state of the game increased – Fede came. His game was subdued for the first 70 minutes but when it came time to dig deep, Fede Valverde’s performance developed and he kept his heart on the field.
Toni Kroos—6: Like Casemiro, didn’t have the same impact as the first leg. Didn’t play badly but was upset to be substituted in the 73rd minute.
Luka Modric—8: Came to life in the closing stages of the game and produced an assist that belongs in the Louvre.
Vinicius Junior—6.5: Not his best game, looked tired and absent most of the game but has become a talent that cannot be replaced. He just needs a moment. That moment came in the form of an assist for Benzema in Madrid’s second goal.
Karim Benzema—7: Scored the goal to secure Madrid’s passage to the semifinals.
Substitutions:
Lucas Vazquez—7.5: elite mentality. Came into the game determined to help Madrid advance to the next round. Played without fear.
Rodrygo—7.5: Came in in the 78th minute and scored the opening goal a minute later to put Madrid back in the draw.
Eduardo Camavinga—8: Crucial on both goals, rushing the opponent and pushing into a spin. His energy, ability to cover the ground and composure on the ball aided the team’s comeback.
Marcelo—6.5: Didn’t have the right to win a header against Ruben Loftus-Cheek but did it and ignited the attack on Madrid’s second goal.
Dani Ceballos – N/A: Played the last few minutes for Vinicius Junior.