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The second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Chelsea was a highly anticipated matchup that promised to be an exciting and tightly contested affair. After a goalless draw in the first leg at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, both teams were looking to secure a victory that would send them to the final.
The match took place on May 5th, 2021, at Stamford Bridge in London, with both teams fielding strong lineups. Real Madrid was without their captain Sergio Ramos, who was out injured, while Chelsea was missing their midfield talisman N’Golo Kante. The match started off at a frenetic pace, with both teams pressing high and looking to create scoring opportunities.
Chelsea took the lead in the 28th minute through a well-taken goal by Timo Werner. The German striker latched onto a through ball from Kai Havertz and slotted the ball past Thibaut Courtois to give the home team the advantage. Real Madrid had a few chances to equalize before halftime, but they were unable to convert any of their opportunities.
The second half saw Real Madrid come out with renewed vigor, as they looked to get back into the match. They had a few chances early on, with Karim Benzema coming close to scoring on a couple of occasions. However, it was Chelsea who struck again in the 85th minute, with Mason Mount scoring a brilliant goal to double their lead. The young Englishman received the ball on the edge of the box, turned and fired a low shot past Courtois to put Chelsea in a commanding position.
Real Madrid continued to push forward in search of a goal, but they were unable to breach the Chelsea defense. The final whistle blew, and Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory to book their place in the final of the UEFA Champions League.
The match was a testament to Chelsea’s defensive solidity, as they kept a clean sheet against one of the most potent attacking teams in Europe. Their backline, led by the impressive pairing of Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger, snuffed out Real Madrid’s attacking threat and limited them to only a few clear-cut chances.
On the other hand, Real Madrid will rue their missed opportunities, particularly in the first half. They had several chances to take the lead, but they were unable to convert any of them. Benzema, who has been in scintillating form this season, was uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal, missing several chances that he would normally have scored.
The absence of Ramos was also felt, as Real Madrid lacked his leadership and experience at the back. His replacement, Eder Militao, had a solid game, but he was unable to marshal the defense in the same way that Ramos would have done.
