An incredible Karim Benzema hat-trick saw Real Madrid take one step into the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge.
The Frenchman, who also scored three goals against Paris Saint-Germain in Madrid’s last European fixture, became just the fourth player to score 80 or more Champions League goals, joining Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Robert Lewandowski in the elite list.
Benzema’s first two came with his head, with the first angled into the top right corner and the second caressed into the bottom left of the Chelsea net.
Kai Havertz, who has scored plenty of important goals for Chelsea in this competition, also netted with his head after latching onto a clever ball by Jorginho, which just left the German to nod past ex-Blue Thibaut Courtois.
But Madrid restored their two-goal lead after a mistake by Edouard Mendy.
The Chelsea man came out of his goal and, when trying to play a simple pass to teammate Antonio Rudiger, gave the ball straight to Benzema – which was reminiscent of when Gianluigi Donnarumma did a similar thing when Madrid beat Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16.
Apex Football News 