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Christian Pulisic (l.) After the opening goal for Chelsea
Photo: JuanJo Martin / imago images / Agencia EFE
In the semi-final first leg of the Champions League, Real Madrid and Chelsea FC separated 1: 1 (1: 1).
At the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano, Christian Pulisic had put the guests in the lead after 14 minutes, Karim Benzema scored to equalize in the 29th minute.
Both teams went into the game with the security of an enormously strong defensive line: Real had conceded just eight goals in the past 17 competitive games, Chelsea FC remained in eleven of their last 14 games without conceding a goal. But above all, the guests from London showed from the start that they would not only be concerned about goal security. After ten minutes the Blues attacked with Mason Mount on the left wing, Pulisic put his pass on the right wing on Timo Werner, who had run through in the middle, but this failed from a few meters to Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Coach Thomas Tuchel's team did not mourn the huge opportunity that had been missed for a long time, but remained dominant and dangerous. In the 14th minute, Antonio Rüdiger overtook the entire Real defense with a pass, the played Pulisic was not significantly disturbed and was able to overcome the falling keeper Courtois as well as the two Real defenders shortly before the goal line.
Her star striker Benzema brought the 13-time winner of the premier class back into the game.
In the middle of the first half he hit the post (23rd minute), shortly afterwards he scored the equalizer: A cross from Marcelo's left wing was headed back into the center by Éder Militão, where Benzema let the ball drain to him then to chase from the rotation under the bar (29.).
It was the Frenchman's 71st goal in the Champions League, drawing level with Real Madrid legend Rául.
At the beginning of the second half, both teams remembered what had made them so successful in recent months: Real waited patiently for the gap, while Chelsea consolidated the central midfield with N'Golo Kanté and Jorginho.
The intermediate result justified it for none of the coaches to take a risk.
There were no chances.
Only when numerous new players came onto the pitch after almost 70 minutes did the game pick up speed again.
By taking on Reece James, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea gained an optical advantage, but they could no longer be counted.
For Madrid, Raphael Varane did not bring the ball on goal after a corner, it stayed at 1: 1.
The second leg will take place next Wednesday (May 5th, 9 p.m.) in London.
In the second semi-final meeting, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City (April 28 and May 4, 9 p.m. each time, all games in the live ticker at SPIEGEL.de) face each other.
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