Real Madrid’s dominant 2-0 win over Chelsea saw Carlo Ancelotti show off his skills with some impressive keepy-ups. The European champions made light work of the Blues, who failed to land a punch on the Spanish giants. Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio scored the goals in the comfortable victory, which could have been more comprehensive had Real Madrid put their opponents to the sword. Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell was sent off, adding to their woes as they lost hope towards the end of the game.
As the match drew to an anti-climatic conclusion, Ancelotti pulled off quite the party trick. The ball flew off the pitch straight towards the 67-year-old, who was the coolest man in the Bernabeu. With supreme ease, the Italian managed four keepy-ups, including a perfect pass back to the player taking the throw-in. Real Madrid fans were impressed, with one saying: “Ancelotti is DAD.” Another wrote: “Even our manager is a better baller than anyone at Chelsea.”
Real Madrid’s 2-0 win flattered Chelsea, who had just one shot on target and have now failed to score in their last four matches. This is their most barren goalless run since December 1993. Los Blancos hardly got out of second gear, which will surely worry Frank Lampard ahead of the second leg. Chelsea had flown out of the traps and Joao Felix had a brilliant chance to get them an early goal but Eder Militao caught up with the on-loan Atletico Madrid ace to stunt his shot.
As Lampard’s men lost control of the match, it did not take long before Real Madrid picked their moment to break the deadlock. A lofted ball over the top from Dani Carvajal found Vinicius Jr, who got goal-side of Wesley Fofana. The Brazilian’s effort was saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga but he pushed it straight into the path of Benzema, who gobbled up his 11th goal in the Champions League against English opposition since the start of last season. Asensio doubled the lead after a short corner found the Spaniard on the edge of the box with Chelsea’s defence not reacting quick enough to close down his effort from 20 yards.
Chilwell had been sent off moments before when he tugged Rodrygo’s shirt as he ghosted past him, but Marc Cucurella has come in for criticism for vacating the space. Real Madrid face Chelsea on Tuesday night in the second leg of their European clash where Ancelotti will make a return to Stamford Bridge.