Defending champions Real Madrid have taken a big step towards the Champions League semi-finals with ÖFB team captain David Alaba. In the first leg of the quarter-finals, the “Royal” celebrated a comfortable 2-0 (1-0) victory against the troubled English football club Chelsea. Alaba played through with the Madrilenians. In the second game of the evening, AC Milan won the Italian duel against SSC Napoli 1-0 (1-0) in front of their home crowd.
Karim Benzema struck after 21 minutes for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, the 35-year-old Frenchman’s fourth goal in the last three premier class games. “Joker” Marco Asensio (74th) made the decision with a direct shot from the edge of the penalty area. Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell saw the red card after an emergency brake (59th) and is therefore missing in the second leg next Tuesday. In Milan, Ismael Bennacer (40th) became the match winner for the “Rossoneri”. Napoli professional Zambo Anguissa was sent off after two yellow cards within four minutes (74th).
In the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, however, Chelsea had their first chance to take the lead in the duel between the two Champions League winners of the past two years. But Joao Felix failed after two minutes at the strong real goalie Thibaut Courtois. While the “Blues” around neo-interim coach Frank Lampard defended in a compact and disciplined manner, the Madrilenians quickly took control. After a wide cross from Daniel Carvajal, Vinicius Jr. failed at Kepa in the Chelsea goal, the rebound was pushed over the line by Real captain Benzema from close range. In direct return, Courtois held onto the lead against Raheem Sterling.
After the change of sides, a Modric shot missed the goal by just centimeters (50th). A small preliminary decision was made after just under an hour when Chilwell pulled down Rodrygo, who had rushed away, just before the edge of the penalty area. Alaba failed with the free kick due to Kepa in the Tormanneck. A little later, the Chelsea goalkeeper had no chance when Asensio shot from distance. Last year, the two clubs also met in the quarter-finals, when the Madrilenians had won 3-2 after extra time after a 3-1 defeat in the first leg.
In the Italian duel, the superior Serie A leaders from Naples had the early goal celebration on their lips. But the Georgian ball artist Khvicha Kvaratskhelia failed after 50 seconds from close range. Luciano Spalletti’s men created a clear chance even without the battered goalscorer Victor Osimhen. Piotr Zielinski was denied by Milan goalie Mike Maignan (12′). However, the Milanese also posed a threat, Rafael Leao shot just wide of the far post after a solo (25′). Then Bennacer turned the game upside down, after a counterattack and a nice dribbling from Brahim Diaz, the Algerian hit the near corner.
Shortly before the half-time whistle, the Dane Simon Kjaer almost celebrated the 2-0 lead after a header into the crossbar (45+3). The two teams neutralized each other in the second round and there were few great chances. Ten days ago, Napoli suffered a 4-0 defeat against Stefano Pioli’s team in the league.