Chelsea’s slim hopes of pulling off a Champions League quarter-final comeback against Real Madrid ended with a whimper tonight, after they lost 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to end the tie 4-0 on aggregate.
The Blues started on the front foot and almost took the lead after 10 minutes, but N’Golo Kante scuffed his shot wide after the French midfielder had found himself free in the area 12 yards from goal.
14-time European Champions Real Madrid looked subdued early on, although talented winger Vinicius Junior should have scored when Luka Modric brilliantly played a low cross into his path.
Chelsea then missed a glorious chance on the stroke of half-time, Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois diving at the feet of Marc Cucurella to deny the Spaniard from just a few yards out.
Kante again looked set to score early in the second-half, only to see Real centre-back Eder Militao block his goal-bound effort from close range.
All of Chelsea’s hard work would ultimately prove worthless though, with Brazilian youngster Rodrygo finishing off a counter-attack to kill the tie on 58 minutes.
22-year-old Rodrygo put the icing on the cake for Carlo Ancelotti’s side with 10 minutes left on the clock when he tapped home after being superbly teed up by the impressive Fede Valverde.
Rodrygo has now scored 30 goals for Real Madrid. 47% of his Real Madrid goals (14) have come in the Champions League.
On his travels. 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/6l8C8QigOy
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 18, 2023
That’s now four defeats on the spin since taking for Frank Lampard after taking over from Graham Potter, and speaking afterwards the English coach felt his side had at least performed better than they have in recent weeks.
”We played really well for 60 minutes. We created chances but you have to take them,” Lampard told BT Sport.
“You don’t want to praise the performance too much when you lose at this level but we were much improved.
”This club has been further in this competition and the players can take this feeling forward with them for the future.”
“You’re playing for Chelsea. So regardless, every game you play you have to give everything. I won’t let anyone off the hook and we have to show. That standard cannot drop.”
