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English weather in the semi-final first leg in Madrid
Photo: Indira / imago images / ZUMA Wire
Scene of the game:
We put on our German glasses for this, after all, four German professionals played at Real Madrid against FC Chelsea in this semi-final without German teams. In the seventh minute, Timo Werner could have given the game its direction, but the Chelsea attacker missed from four meters standing in front of Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (who also reacted strongly). Werner has a reputation to defend in the Premier League, he has already given 17 big chances this season and is in second place within the leagues. After all, it wasn't quite as bad this time as it was at the weekend against West Ham or weeks ago with the DFB against North Macedonia. Nobody will write "Werner ice cold" about him anytime soon.
Result of the game:
1: 1 (1: 1).
The guest lead by Christian Pulisic from the 14th minute was equalized by Karim Benzema after 29 minutes.
At least the second leg will be exciting.
The match report can be found here.
The first half:
After Werner's action, Pulisic, nicely served by a long pass from Antonio Rüdiger's defense, made it better and cooler.
Madrid's defense had observed the rules of distance.
Chelsea dominated, but Real scored the next goal as Benzema snaked the ball between three Chelsea defenders and locked it.
Then there was only the big rain, and people hummed in front of the television with Funny van Dannen: "It was raining in Madrid, but luckily we had our raincoats with us." Which only applied to Real coach Zinédine Zidane.
The second half:
the game and the rain splashed in competition.
Even the social media squires of Real President Florentino Pérez would not have been able to produce an exciting cut for the youth in North America and Asia from this half-time.
If this had been a Super League match, the project might have been canceled after that.
Player of the game:
Karim Benzema has been written about so often that he is one of the most underrated strikers in the world that nobody should underestimate him anymore.
On Tuesday he scored his 71st Champions League goal, drawing level with another Real Madrid legend.
Raúl.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski scored more often.
History of the game:
Hard to believe, but Real and Chelsea last met in the European Cup in 1971. Fifty years ago, Chelsea won the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup in a replay 2-1. After that, both European big ships purposefully avoided each other - except for a Supercup game in 1998. That would have changed reliably in the Super League.
Location of the game:
This game was a Champions League semi-final, sometimes you had to shake yourself and shout it out again.
A 1: 1 in the continuous rain of Madrid in the empty Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium with a capacity of 8400 spectators, which was used as an alternative stadium during the renovations at the Bernabéu.
Couldn't a more worthy stadium have been dedicated to the great Di Stefano?
But Ernst-Kuzorra-Platz in Gelsenkirchen isn't a beauty either.
Quote from the game:
"Let's talk about football instead." Real icon Roberto Carlos said that with a slightly uncertain smile on his face before the game when he was asked about the Super League.
So Super League and football seem to be two different things.
Well, then it couldn't be anything.
Insight from the game:
Everything will be better with the new Champions League from 2024. More colorful, more spectacular, and it won't rain anymore either. The Uefa President vouches for this with his good name.
