Real Madrid sails into Champions League SF, Chelsea adrift

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James Robson

Printed Apr 18, 2023  •  3 minute learn

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LONDON — Actual Madrid’s pursuit of a fifteenth European Cup marches on.

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Chelsea, in the meantime, doesn’t know when it’s going to compete on this elite stage once more.

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Madrid’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday accomplished a 4-0 combination victory and noticed the Spanish giants advance to the Champions League semifinals for the eleventh time in 13 seasons.

Rodrygo scored twice within the second half to derail a spirited Chelsea comeback that lasted the most effective a part of an hour, however in the end resulted in a fourth straight loss beneath interim supervisor Frank Lampard.

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Madrid can proceed its quest for extra glory in a contest it has gained a report 14 instances, with both Manchester Metropolis or Bayern Munich to return within the subsequent spherical.

“We’re able to be there and we’re able to struggle for the ultimate,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned.

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Metropolis was main Bayern 3-0 after the primary leg of the quarterfinals, organising a probable rematch of final yr’s semifinals. Madrid scored twice in added time and one other in further time on the Bernabeu final season to win 6-5 on combination.

Madrid is already the one group to efficiently defend the Champions League in its fashionable guise – successful it three consecutive instances from 2016-18 – and continues to be in competition to win it back-to-back once more.

It’s a report that no different group can compete with – and with a ahead line of Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema and Rodrygo in such daunting kind, the defending champions will take some stopping.

Chelsea’s depressing marketing campaign, nevertheless, is now destined to finish and not using a trophy.

Defeat left Lampard fielding questions on the place the 2021 European champion goes after its troubled begin to life beneath new homeowners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

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“Individuals will make quite a bit about this season for Chelsea as a result of we’ve had a lot success,” Lampard mentioned. “The fact is that this membership goes to be again, however it’s going to take work.”

Chelsea sits eleventh within the Premier League and 17 factors off the highest 4 regardless of spending round $630 million on new signings.

A membership that gained the Champions League twice beneath former proprietor Roman Abramovich now seems sure to overlook out on the competitors subsequent season.

With the battle for the highest 4 rising in depth within the gentle of a resurgent Arsenal, an bettering Manchester United and a Saudi-backed Newcastle, Chelsea’s route again to European membership soccer’s elite competitors is probably not straight ahead.

“On this second to attempt to predict what occurs going ahead, will or not it’s good, will or not it’s dangerous, I feel is fairly pointless,” Lampard mentioned. “However I do suppose we will set the constructing blocks now of the place we wish to get to.”

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Chelsea’s slide has been sudden.

Simply two years in the past, the London membership gained the Champions League for a second time in its historical past, beneath supervisor Thomas Tuchel.

The German supervisor, who was vastly in style amongst followers, was fired earlier within the season and changed by Graham Potter, who suffered the identical destiny at first of this month.

Lampard’s arrival has not prompted an upturn in kind, together with his group scoring simply as soon as in its 4 losses since his appointment.

That lack of innovative was evident once more within the quarterfinals second leg towards Madrid as Chelsea missed a number of possibilities.

N’Golo Kante didn’t convert clear openings in every half with the rating nonetheless 0-0. And former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois beat away a close-range effort from Marc Cucurella simply earlier than the break.

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The house group was made to pay for these misses as Madrid struck twice on the break.

Ancelotti admitted his group “suffered quite a bit” earlier than Rodrygo’s targets.

The Brazil ahead opened the scoring within the 58th minute when handing over Vinicius’ cutback. He added a second within the eightieth, this time after Federico Valverde’s help.

He might need had a hat trick if not for a first-half effort hitting the skin of the submit.

The house followers headed for the exits in numbers as soon as Rodrygo’s second purpose crossed the road.

However those that remained applauded on the finish after being given some trigger for encouragement as Chelsea pushed Madrid for a big a part of the match.

“I feel the followers appreciated the efficiency at present,” Lampard mentioned. “Perhaps they’ve had moments this season when they don’t seem to be feeling like that, so we have now to latch onto that.”

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