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Chelsea outplay Real Madrid to set up all-English Champions League final

Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva and Timo Werner of Chelsea celebrate following victory during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on May 05, 2021 in London, England. - GETTY IMAGES
Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva and Timo Werner of Chelsea celebrate following victory during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on May 05, 2021 in London, England. - GETTY IMAGES

It may not be to everyone’s taste around the continent but the Champions League Final will yet again be a ‘full English’ as Chelsea brilliantly overcame the competition’s royalty, Real Madrid, to deservedly set up a meeting with Manchester City.

By doing so they ensured that for the second time in three seasons the final will be contested by two Premier League teams with the strength of English football shown by the fact that it is two different clubs after Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur in 2019.

As with that season it could also be two English clubs in the Europa League Final. Chelsea won it back then but now they are so close to claiming the greatest prize, the one that really matters, for only the second time and in what will be their third final and their first since 2012.

Roman Abramovich’s hiring and firing may be unpalatable but it works: all three times they have reached the final Chelsea have changed managers mid-season. After Avram Grant in 2008 and Roberto Di Matteo four years later has come Thomas Tuchel although he is clearly on a different level to his predecessors who did not last long. A campaign that was all about being rescued amid fears that Chelsea might not even qualify for the Champions League may end with them gloriously returning to the competition as its holders.

There is also another slice of history for Chelsea who have become the first club to have a men’s and a women’s team in a Champions League Final in the same campaign. And there is a personal achievement for Tuchel as he became the first coach to reach consecutive finals with different clubs having lost with Paris Saint-Germain last August. His stellar achievements since taking over at Chelsea in late January simply cannot be over-stated. A new contract looms.

There was even another clean sheet – that is 18 in 24 games – and how he has transformed Chelsea. Tuchel has rehabilitated Antonio Rudiger and re-built Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, who almost bullied Sergio Ramos. The Real captain looked all of his 35 years. All were exceptional as was N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy who made two wonderful saves from Karim Benzema, the only Real player to carry a threat.

As the game ended Mendy, Jorginho and Thiago Silva – who like Tuchel has taken PSG and Chelsea to consecutive finals – dropped to their knees in prayer. Even in an empty stadium it was quite the celebration as their team-mates hurtled around with Havertz and Werner hugging in almost disbelief while Tuchel sported the biggest of grins.

Chelsea are back into the top four, into the FA Cup Final and now into the one they all crave against City in Istanbul on May 29 although, surely, Uefa has to see sense, despite its statements otherwise, and switch the venue to England during these Covid times. It would be nice for them to consider the fans given how they mobilised against the European Super League.

Wherever the final is Chelsea have every right to be there. They were comprehensively the better team over both legs against Real for whom Eden Hazard, on his return to Stamford Bridge, was anonymous before being substituted with coach Zinedine Zidane having no answers. Zidane also had no handshakes as he stormed off at the final whistle. It said it all about Chelsea’s supremacy and Real’s meekness.

The only thing that sticks in the craw is that both finalists – City and now Chelsea – tried to get out of the Champions League with the ESL launch although at least they had the decency to be the first clubs to exit that abomination. Hopefully they will now appreciate a little more of what they have already got.

Chelsea were at it from the start. They were uncompromising – earning three early bookings – and in Real’s faces and it was summed up by their opening goal with Kante bursting through the middle of the pitch, exchanging passes with Mount before laying the ball off to Havertz who chipped it over Thibaut Courtois. It rebounded back off the cross-bar with Werner alertly following up to nod it over the line from just a yard out.

Timo Werner opens the scoring for Chelsea. - GETTY IMAGES
Timo Werner opens the scoring for Chelsea. - GETTY IMAGES

That was precious but so, moments before, was a crucial intervention from Mendy who flung himself to his left to turn a powerful shot from Benzema around the post. The save was even more impressive given Mendy could only have seen the ball late after Benzema took possession on the edge of the penalty area before swivelling sharply.

Certainly Mendy knew how vital it was, screaming his satisfaction, and soon after Chelsea scored he denied Benzema again as the forward rose to direct a strong header from seven yards that was acrobatically tipped over the bar. What a difference Mendy has made.

But, in truth, that was it from Real. They were as flat as the ball that was replaced after just 12 seconds and, like it, appeared unable to handle the pressure. Their experience appeared to make them look like a team that was over the hill and tired rather than savvy. Chelsea were just too sharp, too aggressive, too quick for them. They hunted down their opponents all over the pitch and that was inevitably summed up by Kante when Vinicius Junior sprinted beyond Ben Chilwell only for the midfielder to cover and whisk the ball away.

To Chelsea’s credit they did not relent. There was no attempt to hold onto their advantage. Instead they went for the kill but were frustratingly wasteful. The misses racked up: Havertz headed against the bar, Silva headed over and then wide, Mount was clear on goal but shot wildly before both Werner and Havertz were through from Rudiger’s pass only for Courtois to repel the latter’s shot with his legs.

There was more with Werner sprinting from his own half, flanked by Havertz and Kante and into the Real area with Kante, this time, thwarted by Courtois. As it went on it obviously raised the fear that Real, with their stickability, could capitalise but Chelsea were having none of it. “Keep on pushing,” Tuchel implored and, finally, they got their reward. Once again the goal encapsulated the difference between the two sides as Kante powered forward, nipping in to steal possession deep in the Real half before finding substitute Christian Pulisic who smartly delayed as Courtois committed himself before picking out Mount. He swept the ball home from close-range and his face said it all. Chelsea are in the final. Just as Europe meets Asia in the Turkish capital the irresistible force of City will meet the immovable object of Chelsea.


09:28 PM

That's all from me...

But read Jason Burt's report for a full recap of this evening's events.


09:19 PM

What a season Mount has had!


08:59 PM

Chelsea well and truly deserved to win tonight

The hosts could have scored five or six and their defence was excellent throughout. Real Madrid were not at the races and Chelsea were far the superior team.


08:55 PM

FULL TIME: Chelsea 2 Madrid 0

Ziyech goes down in the box. No penalty given but it does not matter... it is full time! Chelsea are into the Champions League final!


08:54 PM

90+3 min: Chelsea 2 Madrid 0

Chelsea attack again. James tries to break into the box but is tackled just in time. He attacks again, firing a shot just wide.

Havertz off for Giroud. He could have scored three tonight!


08:50 PM

90 min: Chelsea 2 Madrid 0

There will be four minute of added time.


08:48 PM

87 min: Chelsea 2 Madrid 0

Mount is booked for a tackle on Militao. Nothing malicious. Azpilicueta is coming off, replaced by James. Ziyech also on Ziyech for Mount.


08:45 PM

GOOOOOAAAAAAL! Mount! Chelsea 2 Madrid 0

There it is! It has been coming! Kante releases Pulisic who breaks into the box. He holds up the ball before squaring it to Mount who hammers the ball home.

That was well deserved. All-English final it is...


08:44 PM

84 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Madrid are severely lacking in creativity. They do not look like scoring at all.


08:42 PM

82 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Pulisic fires a shot just wide of the post from a tight angle. He has been everywhere since being brought on!


08:40 PM

80 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Benzema spins away from Silva but Jorginho gets back to make a crucial intervention before a shot is released.

Chelsea should have killed this game but, as it stands, one goal for Madrid takes us to extra time.


08:37 PM

77 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

More changes for Madrid. Rodrygo on for Casemiro - an attacking move.

Pulisic fires in a low cross but no one latches onto it! Havertz was close but could not quite tap it home! Another one...


08:34 PM

74 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Mount's corner is met by Silva but his header goes across goal and wide of the post. I can't believe how many chances Chelsea have missed this half. That must have been number eight.


08:32 PM

72 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Pulisic cruises forward, beating defenders with ease. He gets to the byline but his cross cannot get past Courtois.

Kroos is booked for a bad tackle on Pulisic on half-way.

Pulisic, who has been lively, wins a corner off Nacho.


08:30 PM

70 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

There is a lot of space for Chelsea at the moment. Pulisic could be deadly with his pace fresh off the bench.


08:28 PM

68 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Werner is coming off, replaced by Pulisic. The German has been good tonight.


08:26 PM

66 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Hazard drills a shot from a close angle, forcing a save. Corner to Madrid. Havertz heads the resulting ball away.

The visitors come again and Chelsea counter. Werner sprints up the pitch and rolls a pass to Kante who cannot roll the ball past the keeper. Another chance wasted! This could come back to cost them.


08:22 PM

62 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Nacho is booked for chopping down Havertz. Some afters ensue.

Changes for Madrid; Valverde on for Mendy, Asensio for Vinicius.


08:20 PM

60 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Havertz misses a huge chance! He is played through on goal via a simple ball over the top. Courtois makes a low save with his boot. How have Chelsea not added a second this half?!


08:17 PM

57 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Madrid are really struggling here. They cannot keep the ball and are lacking in ideas. Madrid are there for the taking.


08:14 PM

54 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Chelsea have missed another one... Werner flicks the ball to Mount who breaks into the box. He has a one-on-one but blasts his shot over the bar! Why did Mount go for power?


08:12 PM

52 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Another chance missed! Chilwell whips the ball into the front post but Silva can only direct it over the bar. That was not too far away either...


08:10 PM

50 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Chelsea have started this half brightly. Chilwell is fouled deep in the Madrid half. Chance for a cross into the box here.


08:07 PM

47 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Havertz hits the bar! Again! A delicious ball is put on the head of Havertz who nails a header into the woodwork! That was very unlucky.


08:04 PM

The second half is underway

Chelsea get us restarted. They are 45 minutes away from the Champions League final!


07:56 PM

Chelsea are in an excellent position...

But one goal can change it all. Madrid were sluggish in the first half. Can they find some quality after the break?


07:53 PM

Here is the only goal of the evening so far


07:47 PM

45 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Rudiger fouls Vinicius just inside the Chelsea half. Madrid then give the ball away and Chelsea counter. Havertz breaks forward and Chelsea have an extra man. Havertz goes alone and loses the ball. Chance wasted.

That's the half! No added time required.


07:45 PM

43 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Chelsea are looking the better side at the moment. Madrid are a little rattled after conceding.

Mount breaks into the box from the left. His shot is blocked and ricochets to Werner who scoops a volley into the hands of Courtois.


07:41 PM

39 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Christensen brings down Mendy and is booked. Fair enough, that is his third foul of the half. This game is heating up a touch...


07:39 PM

37 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Benzema should score! The striker spins away from the defence and guides a header towards goal. Mendy makes a strong reflex save! But Benzema should have done better from close range.

Ramos is then booked at the corner for throwing Azpilicueta to the ground. Free kick.


07:34 PM

33 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Mendy bursts down the left for Madrid but is dispossessed by Kante. Chelsea then attack via Werner. He tries to find Rudiger in the box but cannot execute the pass.


07:31 PM

30 min: Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Well, well, well. Chelsea are well on top on this tie. How will Madrid respond?


07:30 PM

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAL! Werner! Chelsea 1 Madrid 0

Kante rolls in Havertz who dinks it over the keeper. It hits the bar and Werner is there to nod it home into the empty net!

Advantage Chelsea!


07:28 PM

27 min: Chelsea 0 Madrid 0

Benzema spins on the edge of the Chelsea box and bends one towards the far corner. Mendy just keeps it out! What a save! A warning for the Chelsea defence.... do not give Benzema time on the ball.


07:25 PM

24 min: Chelsea 0 Madrid 0

It has been a fairly even contest so far. A little cagey and slightly lacking in quality.


07:23 PM

21 min: Chelsea 0 Madrid 0

Modric tries to play Vinicius in down the right but Rudiger reads it well, shutting down the attack.


07:20 PM

GOAL DISALLOWED!

Chelsea counter. Chilwell rolls the ball into the box and Werner slots it home. But he is then ruled, correctly, offside! He has to time his run better. No excuse for being offside there.


07:19 PM

17 min: Chelsea 0 Madrid 0

At the other end, the ball falls to Modric who hits the ball straight at Mendy.


07:18 PM

16 min: Chelsea 0 Madrid 0

Jorginho is booked after stopping a counter with a professional foul.

Chelsea are growing into the game, passing the ball around in the Madrid half. Werner puts in a wicked cross but Havertz commits a foul on Nacho as he goes for the ball.


07:14 PM

13 min: Chelsea 0 Madrid 0

Chelsea start to apply some pressure, Rudiger fires a shot from range which is saved just as the ball swerved. Mount then breaks into the box with some nice skill but his cross is cleared. Casemiro then commits a foul in a good position for a cross.


07:12 PM

11 min: Chelsea 0 Madrid 0

Kroos fires a speculative shot from long range which Mendy saves comfortably. Chelsea look a bit nervous so far, unable to maintain possession.


07:11 PM

9 min: Chelsea 0 Madrid 0

Chilwell wins the ball deep in the Madrid half before finding Werner. He drives into the box but Ramos shepherds the ball through to the keeper.


07:08 PM

7 min: Chelsea 0 Madrid 0

Nacho is now down after another clumsy tackle, this time by Havertz. No card given.


07:06 PM

5 min: Chelsea 0 Madrid 0

Werner makes a good run in behind but he is caught just offside.

Hazard and Kroos are both caught with bad tackles, the second is awarded a free kick. The resulting cross into the box is headed clear by Thiago Silva.


07:03 PM

2 min: Chelsea 0 Madrid 0

Madrid start confidently, passing the ball around the back. Chelsea win possession and do the same.


07:01 PM

Here we go!

Real Madrid get us underway.


06:58 PM

The players are out onto the pitch

There is no rain in sight (for now...).


06:54 PM

Chelsea, just, have the edge going into tonight...

Thanks to their away goal. All that goes out the window if Real Madrid score, of course.

The visitors will be confident they can get a result, especially with a certain Sergio Ramos back in the side. It is a huge night for Eden Hazard on his return to Stamford Bridge. Can he justify his price tag in Real colours this evening?


06:51 PM

We are less than 10 minutes away from kick-off - this game could go either way!


06:41 PM

Zinedine Zidane loves this competition

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is looking to secure his fourth progression in four UEFA Champions League semi-final ties, which would equal the record for most semi-final tie progressions by a manager in competition history (4 - along with Alex Ferguson, Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi).


06:33 PM

The weather could be a factor tonight

The rain is off and on in London, coming down hard for short periods of time. It could be a challenging evening for the defences.


06:27 PM

Jason Burt: Abramovich will tolerate Tuchel’s safety-first football as long as he keeps winning

The most successful managers in recent years at Chelsea have been Jose Mourinho, in his second spell, and Antonio Conte. Both brought the trophies that Abramovich demands but neither fulfilled the fantasy that inspired him to buy the club in the first place.

It was a famous night at Old Trafford 18 years ago that did that; a night when Real Madrid were Manchester United’s opponents and they won 4-3 with Ronaldo departing with a hat-trick and a standing ovation as the Spanish giants made it through to the Champions League semi-finals.

“My Chelsea team has no personality,” Abramovich lamented to Ancelotti when he was wooing the then AC Milan coach to come to Stamford Bridge. “My ambition is to win every competition but at the moment I don’t even recognise my team.”

Certainly Abramovich has become more pragmatic since then. First and foremost, by hook or by crook, he wants to win which is why he and senior figures at Chelsea were fretting over the past couple of years that the gap between them and Manchester City and Liverpool was too great.

It sparked last summer’s £220million spending. Chelsea had the cash and the pandemic provided the opportunity to steal a march on their rivals but that also meant Frank Lampard’s job was made that bit harder. No longer did he have time and so Tuchel was hired with the clearest of remits: get Chelsea back into the Champions League and, again, by any means possible.

Read Jason Burt's full piece on Thomas Tuchel here


06:18 PM

Chelsea team news recap

Kai Havertz starts in the false nine role after the Germany playmaker forced his way into Thomas Tuchel's starting XI courtesy of his brace in Saturday's 2-0 Premier League win over Fulham.

Toni Rudiger starts in defence wearing a protective face mask, with Cesar Azpilicueta at right wing-back, and Timo Werner and Mason Mount joining Havertz up front.


06:09 PM

Chelsea fans are out in force before tonight's clash

Chelsea fans protest club ownership outside the stadium before the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match at Stamford Bridge, London. - PA

06:00 PM

Tonight will be Real Madrid's first ever competitive match at Stamford Bridge


05:51 PM

And here is the Chelsea line-up!

Chelsea: Mendy, Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Kante, Jorginho, Chilwell, Mount, Werner, Havertz.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Abraham, Pulisic, Caballero, Zouma, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Gilmour, James, Emerson Palmieri.


05:50 PM

The Real Madrid team news is in! Ramos and Hazard both start!


05:40 PM

Eden Hazard is set to start against Chelsea on Stamford Bridge return

Matt Law has reported that Eden Hazard is set to complete his Stamford Bridge return by starting for Real Madrid against his former club, with manager Zinedine Zidane claiming it would be a “great time” for the Belgian to ignite his career with the Spaniards.

Hazard has not returned to Chelsea since joining Real for £130million two years ago and has suffered recurring injury problems at the Spanish club, which has stopped him showing his best form.

Hazard made a substitutes’ appearance in Real’s Champions League semi-final first-leg draw against Chelsea last week and Spanish sources now expect him to start the second leg.

Read the full story here


02:43 PM

Good evening, Chelsea belong at this level says Thomas Tuchel

Chelsea's impressive away performance at Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final proved the team belong at the highest level of European football, manager Thomas Tuchel said on Tuesday.

Chelsea secured a crucial away goal in their 1-1 draw against the 13-times European champions in Madrid, to give Tuchel's side a narrow advantage ahead of Wednesday's second leg in London.

"The main lesson is that we can trust ourselves and we have the right to be in the semi-final," Tuchel told a news conference. "We deserve to be there.

"It's the second leg, the decisive one, so to arrive with a certain level of belief and self-confidence is absolutely necessary. Otherwise we have no chance against a team like Real Madrid."

The German, who replaced Frank Lampard in January, added that the biggest challenge his team faced was to forget the first-leg scoreline.

"The challenge is always over two games, you play the first game and then you start at 0-0 again," he said.

"I don't know any other way to prepare a match than to encourage my team to go out and try to win."

Midfielder Mateo Kovacic will miss the game with a hamstring injury, while defender Antonio Rudiger will have to wear a protective face mask if he is in the squad.

Real have injury issues of their own, with Raphael Varane out for 10 days and Lucas Vazquez and Dani Carvajal both out for the season.

Their skipper Sergio Ramos, also missed the first leg, but Tuchel fully expects the centre back to feature at Stamford Bridge.

"I think that he will start, we will prepare for that," Tuchel said. "Does it change a lot for Real Madrid? Yes, he's their captain.

"So it changes a lot but we cannot lose our heads about this decision. We should be self-confident and have no fear to face this challenge."

Reuters