Match stats: Chelsea 2-0 to Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidan will take the blame. He often defeats Real Madrid, even if it is not his fault.
This time, however, it is.
Blancos went against boss Chelsea with his stomach on his head, bringing back captain Sergio Ramos for only the third game since 9 January and his first in nearly two months.
The 35-year-old was badly exposed, as the home side overrides their visitors from Spain, especially during the second half.
Zidan also accompanied Eden Hazard, Encouraged by the recent Belgian form, But he was unable to assimilate the spell easily during his time at Chelsea.
Koch’s biggest offense, however, was his highly unusual formation. Madrid have played 3-5-2 several times this season, but this is not the case.
On paper, Zidane chose a team that was fit 4-3-3, but he outscored Eder Militão, Ramos and Nacho.
Instead of the usual set-up, however, Nacho and Militão widened left and right respectively, splitting Ramos up the middle.
The only help she had was coming back from Casemiro or Luca Modric to help, or her other alleged center-back partners shuffle. Was it any wonder that Chelsea protected Madrid for pieces, time and time again?
Only exuberant refinement turned his 2–0 win over Thomas Tuchel to a more embarrassing scoreline thanks to Zuden’s charges.
Madrid had the ball more in the first half, but had to smile to break the deadlock before Chelsea’s half-hour mark.
Ramos was exposed for a goal, was dropped on his back by Timo Werner, and was unable to catch up with the Germany international, who beat Kai Havert’s chip to Thibut Courtois and bounced back from the crossbar.
Werner had already seen another goal, he had also turned upside down, and even he could not fail to find the net from such close range, leaving him in the Spanish capital eight days earlier. Gilt-edged ready for chance.
Karim Benzema came close for Madrid twice, forcing Edouard Mendy to make two fine saves, but beyond the French outline, Zidan’s side offered nothing.
Returning to the Stamford Bridge, Hazard was mocked, though Jorginho was booked to fasten his heel after a quick clean turn, while Vincius was hitting Ben Chilwell upside down; There is not an ideal state of affairs for Madrid.
Brazil showed nothing of the magical performance that saw them on net twice against Liverpool in the previous round, and were brought in for Marco Asensio in the second half, while Ferland Mendy made way for Fed Valeward.
Down 1-0, it was a chance for Zidan to change his system and find a breakthrough, but his moves were similar. It was only when he left Casarimo late for Rodrigo that the coach tried to change the system, which was clearly not working from the start.
By this time it was too late, neither the dynamic of the game could be stopped nor Nolo Kante.
The Chelsea midfielder, who helped set up the first goal, was also instrumental in the second, eventually being sent from close range by Maison Mt.
The English midfielder made amends after missing a golden opportunity earlier, but most of Chelsea’s team were to blame for this, with Madrid edging out.
At times it looked like a group-stage game, in which Chelsea faced one of Europe’s minnows, not a record 13-time European Cup winners.
In the first leg, Madrid drew 1–1. Here, they may consider themselves lucky that it was not over, four, five or six zeros.
Zidan’s set up was to blame, because even in his weakest performances of the season, nothing of this ilk took place.
Zidan has long warned that his team is running low on gas, and here Madrid reaped, perhaps, after a season of exhaustion.
But he did nothing to help him on a chasing night for Florentino Perez and co.
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