Chelsea have it all to do in Spain next week as Real Madrid beat us for the first time in our history courtesy of Karim Benzema’s hat-trick.
The French forward had already netted two classy headers when he benefitted from a defensive mix-up in the first minute of the second half, spoiling the momentum given to us by Kai Havertz’s goal shortly before the interval.
The Blues had started the game brightly, but Real remained a constant menace on the break, the pace of Vinicius Junior and deadly finishing from Benzema putting the Spanish side 2-0 up in the blink of an eye midway through the first period.
Havertz, Reece James and Thiago Silva had all had chances before the German headed beyond Thibaut Courtois to get us right back in the game. The brilliant Benzema then wasted a golden opportunity to complete a second consecutive Champions League hat-trick before he did, with Chelsea applying all the pressure therein. Subs Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech went closest to getting a goal back, but it is with a 3-1 deficit that we travel to the Bernabeu next week.
The defence of our European crown might be in serious jeopardy, but if there is any team who can overcome the odds it is this Chelsea.
Thomas Tuchel made a quartet of changes to his Chelsea side and reverted to a 3-4-3 shape, before switching back to 4-3-3 at the break.
James started his first game since Burnley away, at right wing-back, with Cesar Azpilicueta selected on the opposite flank ahead of Marcos Alonso. Andreas Christensen came into the back three.
Jorginho also returned, at the expense of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and he joined N’Golo Kante in midfield.
The three-pronged attack was once again spearheaded by Havertz. Mason Mount, making his 150th Blues appearance, and Christian Pulisic, another fresh face, joined him there.
Real Madrid preferred Federico Valverde to Marco Asensio or Rodrygo on the right-hand side of their front three