- Champions League Quarterfinal first legs Week 1 Recap
- Real Madrid 3 Chelsea 1
- Villareal 1 Bayern Munich 0
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Andre
Real Madrid 3 Chelsea 1
Chelsea succumbed to a 1-3 reverse in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final tie against Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening.
The France international put the 13-time European champions in control with a brace of first-half headers, before capitalising on Edouard Mendy’s mistake to complete his hat-trick 46 seconds after the restart.
Chelsea responded five minutes before the break with Havertz ghosting into the box to head home an inviting centre by Jorginho.
Mason Mount was then whiskers away from seeing his curling 25-yard effort nestle in the top corner, but the Blues suffered their first loss in nine European games against Spanish opposition.
What’s next?
The two sides renew their rivalry in the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu next Tuesday. Before that, Madrid host Getafe in LaLiga on Saturday, while Chelsea travel to Southampton in the Premier League.
Real Madrid Benzama 21’, 24’, 46’
Checlsea – Havertz 40’
Chelsea 53% ball possession
Villareal 1 Bayern Munich 0
Only goal by Villareal’s Arnaut Danjuma in the 8th minute
Bayern were well off the pace in the first half and went in at the break having failed to register a single shot on target.
The Spanish outfit put in a brilliantly rigid and firm defensive showing while continuously maintaining a dynamic attacking threat throughout the game and indeed should have ended the night with more than one goal.
Moreno went agonisingly close to a breathtaking goal on the hour mark, the Spain international whipping just wide from inside his own half after a sloppy pass from Neuer – the closest either side came to a goal in the final 30 minutes.
Benfica 1 Liverpool 3
Benfica- Nunez 49’
LFC- Konate 17’, Mane 34’, Diaz 87’
Liverpool looked to be cruising into the last four after first-half goals from Ibrahima Konate and Sadio Mane gave them a deserved half-time lead.
However, Benfica were back in it when Darwin Nunez netted shortly after the restart, and they continued to threaten an equaliser before Luis Diaz wrapped things up in somewhat fortuitous fashion late on.
Alexander-Arnold almost created another goal just before the break, an incredible pass on the turn putting in Mohamed Salah for a one-on-one that he should have done better with.
Man City 1 Atletico Madrid 0
Kevin De Bruyne was the hero as Manchester City overcame Atletico Madrid 1-0 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Etihad Stadium.
The Belgium international struck the only goal 20 minutes from time to hand Pep Guardiola’s side a narrow advantage heading into the second leg at the Wanda Metropolitano next week.
Atletico had frustrated the Premier League leaders for large periods of the contest on Tuesday with a typically stubborn defensive display.
However, their resistance was finally broken when De Bruyne latched onto Phil Foden’s precise through-ball, before sliding past Jan Oblak.
Predictions
BAY-VIL
AM: BAY 3-0
RMA-CHE
AM: RMA 2-0
ATM-MCI
AM: MCI 2-1
LFC-BEN
AM: LFC 2-0
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.
