Does Karim Benzema deserve to win a Ballon d'Or?
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(CNN) --
A hat-trick by experienced striker Karim Benzema gave Real Madrid an emphatic 3-1 victory over defending European champions Chelsea FC in the first leg of their quarterfinals. the Champions League on Wednesday.
While Chelsea's future remains in chaos off the pitch, the team suffered a terrible defeat at home.
Benzema inspired his team to a 3-1 win on a rainy night in west London, putting the Spanish side in command of the key ahead of the second leg.
It was a game that looked very different when the draw was made.
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Karim Benzema in the quarter-final against Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge on April 6, 2022. Credit: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
The sanctions on outgoing Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich due to his links to Russian President Vladimir Putin are likely to have a major impact on what has been the club's biggest game of the season so far.
There was uncertainty over whether fans would be able to attend the game and restrictions on travel budgets put in question whether Chelsea would be able to participate in the Champions League.
But, after further clarification and working with the British government, it was easy to forget about off-field issues as a fully-functioning Stamford Bridge cheered alongside them.
On the pitch, it was Chelsea who started better, moving over Madrid players who took a while to settle, but settled.
The visitors took advantage of a brilliant chance Vinicius Jr. deflected off the crossbar with his early shot and Chelsea took no note of the warning.
Thomas Tuchel's side quickly found themselves two goals down after Benzema hit two precise headers past Edouard Mendy in a chaotic three-minute period.
The goals were met by frenzied celebrations at the away end with many of the Madrid fans at the mercy of the stormy conditions.
With the semi-finals looking like a distant dream for Chelsea, the home support began to grow frustrated, but there was still one unexpected twist in a hectic first half.
Kai Havertz halved the deficit with a header, hooking a beautifully crafted cross from Jorginho.
đŤđˇ The player of the moment, Karim Benzema
â˝ď¸2 consecutive hat-tricks in the #ChampionsLeague
â˝ď¸37 goals in the season
Does he deserve the Ballon d'Or?https://t.co/Vx99drPoNN pic.twitter.com/S01UrV6RBd
â SportsCNN (@sportscnn) April 6, 2022
But before many took their seats after the restart, Benzema scored again, this time taking advantage of a careless play by goalkeeper Mendy.
His pass to Antonio Rudiger was poor and the defender could do little to prevent Benzema from stealing possession and kicking wide open.
It was the Frenchman's second successive hat-trick in this competition, following his feat in the round of 16 against Paris Saint-Germain.
Despite the fact that Chelsea had more attempts and a lot of ball in the second half, it was the Madrid fans who danced while the local supporters despaired.
Chelsea certainly have a chance, albeit a slim one, in the second leg, but who knows what the club will look like by then.
In the other game of the day, Villarreal beat Bayern Munich 1-0 at their stadium.
Interest to take charge of Chelsea
Several potential owners have expressed interest in taking over the management of the club, but no decision has yet been made on where Chelsea will go from here.
Abramovich himself has acted as an intermediary between Russia and Ukraine, traveling between Moscow, Kyiv, Istanbul, Warsaw and beyond amid a whirlwind of talks aimed at ending the conflict, his spokesman confirmed earlier this year.
All this while the brutal realities of war have begun to emerge in Ukraine as Russian forces withdraw from the Kyiv region and say they shift their focus to the east of the country.
