Karim Benzema made it hot for defending champions Chelsea in their first leg of the quarter-final at Stamford Bridge as the France International recorded a tremendous hat-trick to put Real Madrid in a position of power. Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti made a winning return to the club where he won the Premier League and FA Cup double after veteran France striker Benzema delivered his latest masterclass.
34-year-old Karim Benzema continued I’m his perfect form from the Paris St-Germain game as he recorded yet another hat-trick to punish holders Chelsea with two magnificent headers in the space of three minutes midway through the first half.
Kai Havertz’s header gave Chelsea hope before the Chelsea goalkeeper gifted the Real Madrid skipper a gift of a hat-trick. Edouard Mendy’s poor clearance seconds after the restart gave the attacker his third to put Real in command of the tie before the second leg at the Bernabeu next Tuesday (12 April).
Thomas Tuchel brought on Romelu Lukaku in a desperate attempt to retrieve the situation but the striker could make any positive impact on the team as he missed a free header that would have brought them back to the game. Chelsea has demonstrated an ability to overcome adversity in the past but with Real Madrid holding a two-goal advantage going into the second leg at the Bernabeu, it would be hard for them to overcome Carlo Ancelotti’s men next week Tuesday.
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