This really is the most remarkable club when it comes to European competitions. Real Madrid utterly humiliated Chelsea as they beat them 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to win 4-0 on aggregate, sending them to their 11th Semi Finals in the last 13 seasons.
I guess there’s a reason why Real are called The Kings of Europe with their 16 Champions League titles.
Despite enduring a frenzy of Chelsea attacks for two-thirds of the game, Real Madrid walked away from Stamford Bridge without a single scratch on them as they humiliated the Blues 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate to prove their domination over Europe once again with an 11th qualification in the last 13 years to the Semi Finals of the Champions League. Yet, as I mentioned, Real Madrid really shouldn’t have won that game last night.
In spite of Chelsea’s obvious deficiencies this year (and there are many of them), they actually were playing really good football for the opening 60 minutes of the match.
The four-man midfield square block of N’golo Kante, Connor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez, and Mateo Kovacic was actually a brilliant move by Frank Lampard, who has been distinctly short of those since his return to Chelsea, as the block not only hemmed in and neutralized Madrid’s menacing midfield of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Fede Valverde, but it also allowed Chelsea’s forwards to get on the ball and shoot at will on Thibault Courtois’ goal.
Obviously, Chelsea couldn’t convert as they’re got about as much goal luck as Icarus when he flew near the sun, and Thibault Courtois made a massive save right before halftime on Marc Cucurella to keep the game 0-0, but it’s extremely impressive to put up 22 shots, 6 shots on target, 549 passes, 90% passing accuracy, and 8 corners on Real Madrid during a Champions League match, nonetheless.
Remember, this Madrid side held the Blues to just 7 shots, 3 shots on target, and under 500 passes (480 to be exact), and an 82% passing accuracy a week ago at the Santiago Bernadeau. But, as many teams have learned over the years, you just can’t beat this Madrid side in the Champions League by normal means.
In the last 15 years, Madrid have won an astonishing 5 Champions League titles and have been the champions of Europe an even crazier 33% of the time, despite only winning the La Liga title just 5 times in that same timeframe. It’s honestly insane how a team can be so dominate in the world’s most difficult, ruthless competition year after year, but can only win 33% of the titles in a league that is both much easier and only a 3-horse race most seasons.
Barcelona have been the most dominate Spanish team in this timeframe with their 8 La Liga titles (53% of the titles), but they’ve only won 3 Champions League titles with arguably the greatest team ever of Leo Messi, Sergio Busquets, Pique, Xavi, Andreas Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Dani Alves, Victor Valdes, Pedro, Yaya Toure, Thierry Henry, Luis Suarez, Marc Andre Ter-Stegen, Ivan Rakitic, Jordi Alba, Samuel Eto’o, David Villa, Javier Mascherano, and Pep Guardiola (manager) all suiting up for Baraca at one point or another.
I know it’s trendy to say that Madrid has some sort of Champions League magic, but it’s true. And this game proved it.
Rodrygo’s goal saw a defender hit a killer pass in behind the entire Chelsea defense after 15+ minutes of relentless pressure, a Chelsea defender completely take himself out of position and allow Rodrygo to cross the ball across the face of goal uninterrupted, that same cross somehow missed every single defender and landed right to Vinicius Jr.’s, and he somehow found Rodrygo in sea of blue to score the clinching goal.
Whew, that was a mouthful to write.
Nevertheless, it just shows how in the big Champions League moments, Real will either benefit from an egregious opponent error or their own players will take the game by the reigns before the score gets away from them. I know it sounds rather obvious, but this just doesn’t happen for the rest of Europe. Go ask 2010’s Juventus, all those Atletico Madrid CL Finalist teams, and this Man City team if you don’t believe me.
No matter what the score is, where they are playing, who they are playing against, or the time left in the game, Real Madrid will always find a way to win in the Champions League. And that’s why they are off to yet another Semi Final Champions League matchup.
As for Chelsea, even though they played pretty well for most of the match, it’s a good thing they’re out of the competition. They only would have embarrassed themselves if they stayed in it longer.
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