Real Madrid did their job in the first leg at Stamford Bridge. Courtesy of Benzema’s master class. But when it’s football but also the most significant sports competition in history which Guinness World Record has acclaimed, nothing is inevitable here. Anything is feasible. It's never enough in football when the finest teams in Europe battle. We all just witnessed that. What happened in the second leg was so exhilarating and uplifting that my phrases would never be enough to describe that. Some moments are so fantastic that we must need to experience those presents ourselves. Everything was in that ballgame. Anxiety, willpower, excitement, agony, frustration, self-belief, encouragement, fury, composure, vengeance, emotional manipulation, strategy, implementation, tears of both sentiments, respect, haters, answering the critics, collision. I can absolutely go on like this. That’s football for you, my friend, much more than a game.
Before the match Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea’s manager said in a news conference it’s nearly impossible to win in Madrid in front of their fans, especially coming back from two goals down. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti claimed he would not fall for the Tuchel mind game. He anticipated that the UCL holder would make it difficult for Madrid and push for semis. After all, that’s what football is about. Chelsea thrashed Southampton, winning 6-0 just before t. They were poised for Madrid. Chelsea was optimistic and eager about a comeback. They even faced Madrid with the same team that hammered Southampton; only Christensen was replaced by Reece James for additional offensive firepower since they needed two goals at least.
Madrid fans anticipated it wouldn’t be an easy game despite the two-goal advantage at Stamford Bridge. So they decided to go all out to intimate Chelsea and make their voices heard by being their extra man in the field. Even before the match, they demonstrated their passion for Madrid on the roadways and sent a threat to the Chelsea players that they would make them suffer. The battle started before the kick-off. Madrid fans were celebrating in the streets. They built a tifo that shouted, “Don’t play with the king of Europe.”
But in football, anything can happen. No one knows what’s coming. Football is an emotion of a chaotic roller coaster ride. It has numerous ups and downs. We all witnessed that at Santiago Bernabeu. After the kick-off, Chelsea was struggling to play their game. Either Modric or Kroos was marking Kante and Kovacic continuously. Chelsea’s midfield was imprisoned. But the UCL holders didn’t take long to regain their groove. As Madrid was up by two goals, they opted to drop deep and surprise Chelsea on the counter. But they overlooked the idea that more time with the ball would help Chelsea open more space. It took only 15 minutes to turn that advantage into a goal. A wonder-full combination of L-Cheek, Werner, and Mount enabled Chelsea to rediscover their first glimpse of hope. A flick from Werner caught Madrid’s defenders by surprise, which gave Mount a one-on-one scenario with Courtois.
Madrid became restless, and they were desperate to score, but Rudiger was always there. Nothing was escaping him. Madrid ended the first half scarcely producing any opportunities. In the second half, Madrid surrendered an unfortunate corner. It was Rudiger who accomplished the rest to punish Madrid. Madrid was in an unimaginable state. It took only 51 minutes for Chelsea to make the game even.
Madrid was torn apart. But Madrid fans were there to cheer them up. It gave them the confidence to fight back. Madrid decided to play on the front foot. But nothing was functioning. In 61 minutes in the match, a loose ball from Mendy made Madrid bleed again. Kante found Alonso with a lot of room. Carvajal’s sliding tackle couldn’t rescue Madrid as the ball deflected back to Alonso. He found the top corner with so much force that it wasn’t realistic for any goalie to save it.
But thankfully, the ball touched Alonso’s hand; as the new rule stands, it doesn’t matter if the handball was deliberate or not. If and only if Alonso made the pass to someone else, this wouldn’t be offside.
Ancelotti opted to bring on nineteen-year-old Camavinga for more enthusiasm and work rate on the pitch. It was kroos who was sacrificed for him. Kroos wasn’t thrilled about that. But as we all know him as a fantastic sportsman, he shook hands with his coach. Before the impact of the new substitution, Kovacic found Werner in Madrid’s d-box with a lot of room by a simple and highly effective through-pass. Werner made the maximum suited use of that. Converting that goal involved two highly clever and effective body feints from him.
Things couldn’t be worse than that. Madrid was at a crossroads. From a two-goal advantage in 75 minutes, Madrid slipped behind. Only 15 minutes were there for Madrid to emerge from that embarrassment. Madrid had to go for a goal, but Mendy struggled a bit in attack. So the coach chose to bring in club captain Marcello and Rodrygo for a defensive midfielder. It was evident for Madrid; that they had to turn it around immediately. The players were ready to die on the pitch. The crowd got louder and louder to encourage Madrid. Neither the players nor the supporters lost their aspirations.
Madrid knows how to fight back. It’s their characteristics. Like Santiago Bernabeu said, “The Real Madrid shirt is white. It can stain of mud, sweat, or even blood but never of shame.” In the span of 5 minutes, Madrid got their equalizer. Who else? With a fantastic cross on the outside of his boot, Luka Modric released Rodrygo in the d-box. All of that started from a ball retrieve by Camavinga. Chelsea couldn’t believe what had just unfolded.
Madrid midfield was dominating the business. Courtesy of Camavinga and Valverde’s high work rate and the brilliance of Luka Modric.
Funny how everything changes in football. Undoubtedly Luka Modric is one of the finest Midfielders football has ever offered. But do you know, in 2012, Modric was named the worst signing of the season? It was Mourinho who signed him. He urged everyone to have patience and faith in Modric at that time. No wonder why Jose is the best. He saw something that others couldn’t.
Let’s go over to the match again. Real Madrid was relieved. It was 4-4 on aggregate. The game was heading into extra time. The game grew intense with each and every second passing, but pain and agony rang at Madrid’s door again. Madrid was already missing their leader in defense, Militao. It was Nacho who stepped up, but in the 88th minute, he was injured. Ancelotti didn’t have the luxury to deploy another center back. So, Carvajal had to play as a central defender as Lucas covered his role. Both of them were playing in an uncomfortable position.
Extra time begins. Madrid fans were making it very difficult for Chelsea. In the 96th minute, this season’s number one contender for Ballon d’Or, Benzema, scored his 12th goal in this edition of UCL. The goal was planned in the field by Benzema and Vinicius. They discussed how they would attack, and they answered precisely in the same manner.
From two-goal leading to behind in the 75th minute, in response to equalizing in the 80th minute and once again leading the charge in 96th minute. Oh my God! What a match. What anticipation! How many emotions! As a football fan, everyone was delighted to witness that match except the losing team. Even the haters of Madrid enjoyed that match, not being satisfied with the result.
Once again, Madrid proved why they are the king of Europe.