By Tales Azzoni
Madrid: Karim Benzema has struck yet again against Chelsea, leading Real Madrid to a 2-0 win in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
Substitute Marco Asensio also scored for Madrid after Benzema had netted his sixth goal in five matches against the English club in the latest meeting between the last two European champions.
Chelsea played the final half-hour with 10 men after Ben Chilwell was sent off for stopping a Madrid breakaway. It was a second consecutive defeat for new Chelsea interim coach Frank Lampard after he replaced Graham Potter amid the team’s disappointing results.
The second leg is next week in London.
Benzema opened the scoring by hitting the open net off the rebound of a save by Kepa Arrizabalaga after an attempt by Vinicius jnr from close range in the 22nd minute at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The French veteran had scored four times against Chelsea in the last-eight last season, including the decisive goal in extra time in the second leg in Madrid. He had a hat-trick in the first leg in London.
Ben Chilwell was sent off for denying Rodrygo a clear path on goal.Credit: AP
Benzema has scored 20 goals in 27 matches against English opposition. His last 14 goals in the competition have come in the knockout stage.
Asensio netted the second in the 74th.
It is the third consecutive time Madrid and Chelsea meet in the Champions League, with Madrid prevailing at this same stage last season and Chelsea advancing past the Spanish powerhouse in the semi-finals in the previous year.
In Wednesday’s other last-eight match-up, AC Milan took a step towards their first Champions League semi-final appearance for 16 years as Ismael Bennacer’s goal earned them a 1-0 win over Napoli.
AC Milan’s Ismael Bennacer celebrates the goal that gave the seven-time European champions the upper hand against Napoli.Credit: AP
On a rainy night, Serie A leaders Napoli’s first continental clash with seven-time European champions Milan was also their first appearance in the quarter-finals of Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
Attempting to avenge their 4-0 home defeat by Milan in Serie A this month, Napoli began pressing immediately, but the hosts took the lead five minutes before the interval when Brahim Diaz teed up Bennacer who struck a low shot inside the far post.
