Chelsea v Real Madrid - as it happened

FT: Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid! Madrid have taken a big step towards a 10th consecutive quarter-final success in this competition thanks to the enduring excellence of Benzema. In scoring a 2nd successive UCL hat-trick, Karim showcased his clinical touch, moving on to 37 goals from 36 matches in all competitions this term. It was, moreover, a fabulous team effort by Ancelotti’s side who were tactically astute, composed in possession and incisive in attack as they earned a first victory over Chelsea.

April 6, 2022

Chance! Lukaku tees up fellow sub Ziyech inside the area and he has a swing at it, firing over the top.

5 minutes added on!

Foul by Carvajal on Mount.

RM double sub: Ceballos on for Valverde, Karim Benzema is replaced by Gareth Bale.

Valverde concedes a free-kick for a foul on Azpilicueta.

James strikes well fron range, hard and true but Courtois is right behind it and makes another good stop.

Havertz does well to find space but there's no power in that strike.

Valverde and Nacho link up well down the right and look dangerous for Real but Chelsea rally to clear.

'Los Blancos' sub: Kroos is replaced by Camavinga.

Corner awarded to Chelsea.

Chelsea keep on coming. What a strike from Mount, curling from range and looping it just over the top.

And that's an even better chance! A deflected cross from the left hangs in the air and Lukaku is unmarked, just outside the six-yard box. Benzema scored two headers in that goal earlier on but Lukaku can only nod wide.

Half an opening for the Chelsea striker, he can only head wide under pressure from Nacho though.

Mount concedes a free-kick for a foul on Carvajal.

RM sub: Nacho replaces Eder Militao.

Chelsea double sub: Lukaku and Loftus-Cheek on for Pulisic and Jorginho.

More changes being prepared: Loftus-Cheek and Lukaku.

Great feet from Pulisic to buy himself some space but his shot is never on target.

Valverde is flagged for offside.

Pulisic gets a corner for Chelsea.

Modric is penalised for a foul on Kovacic.

Corner awarded to Chelsea.

Can Chelsea find a way back in again? They need a response and that's a brilliant effort from Azpilicueta which is heading in until a very very good save indeed.

GOAL for Real Madrid! A gift! Mendy and Rüdiger make a mess of clearing a loose ball, Benzema is ever alert to win the ball and slide into an open goal from 25 metres or so. It's the perfect start to the half and another Champions League hat-trick!

Chelsea double sub: Kovacic and Ziyech on for Kante and Christensen.

HT: Chelsea 1-2 Real Madrid! Benzema scored a hat-trick last time out in this competition and the Frenchman's two terrific headed strikes have put Madrid in a strong position a quarter of the way through this tie. With the lively Vinícius Júnior striking the crossbar it might have been even better for Madrid who have kept the ball well and opened up Chelsea to impressive effect.

April 6, 2022

1 minute added on!

What a chance for the hat-trick! Vinicius Junior is again the danger on the left, he plays it across and Benzema should score but clips a shot wide.

GOAL for Chelsea! Chelsea needed to get the next goal in the tie and they have done just that! Last season's matchwinner in the final comes up with another big moment, and it's another cracking header. Jorginho's clipped cross is a good one and Courtois can't keep out a powerful header from Havertz.

Madrid are showing quality and composure when playing the ball out from the back and through the Chelsea press. An impressive feature of their play in this first period.

A decent chance for the veteran who is free to meet the corner but cannot keep his effort on target.

Corner awarded to Chelsea.

Chelsea need a route back into the tie and it's worth a try from Kante - but his shot is always clearing the crossbar.

Corner awarded to Real Madrid, conceded by Christensen.

It's nearly three! Carvajal gets a shot underneath Mendy but the keeper gets a touch on it and Christensen can clear away.

After Brentford put four past Chelsea at the weekend, those two early headers have continued a flood of goals against Chelsea at home. Mendy is in the right place to prevent another.

Corner awarded to Real Madrid.

Scrub the previous Benzema stat: that's 10 goals now for the Madrid skipper in this UEFA Champions League campaign.

GOAL for Real Madrid! Incredible from Benzema! Two in a few minutes and it's another wonderful header. Chelsea's defenders never picked the number nine up and he steers in Modri?'s cross from the right. Chelsea with it all to do now.

GOAL for Real Madrid! Who else? Real Madrid's main man comes up trumps yet again. It's a terrific header too, playing a one-two with Vinícius Júnior before planting his effort beyond Mendy into the top corner. Priceless.

Rudiger is shown a yellow card.

Eder Militao, fresh from that booking, now needs treatment for a bang on his hip.

End-to-end stuff as Vini Jr carves a channel through the Chelsea defence but Thiago Silva gets across to make the challenge.

James and Mount line up the free-kick, it's the right-back who takes and Courtois has to push out his powerful strike.

The energy is good from Chelsea but they need to ensure it doesn't become frantic. Lots of players were caught high up the pitch just then, in positions they perhaps shouldn't have been in, and it took one stray pass to set Madrid on the counter and almost led to a goal.

Eder Militao is booked for a foul on Havertz.

Christensen is penalised for a foul on Vinicius.

Corner awarded to Chelsea, conceded by Mendy.

Vinicius Jr hits the woodwork! Chelsea look dangerous but Real break away quickly and should score. Benzema finds Vinícius Júnior in space, he chops inside on to his right foot and crashes a shot against the crossbar.

Foul by Kante on Toni Kroos.

Jorginho concedes a free-kick for a foul on Eder Militao.

Chelsea's first sight of goal comes from a long ball in behind from Kante. Havertz looks to work space on his left foot but Alaba closes down his space really well to get a block in.

The early signs are that, out of possession at least, Valverde is operating in a right wing-back role as part of a back five for the visitors.

Azpilicueta is indeed playing on the left for Chelsea and the skipper is close to meeting a very early cross in from Mount.

Chelsea get us going from left to right in the blue!! Real Madrid in their usual colours!