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Champions League: Spectre of ESL haunts Chelsea and Real Madrid
Josh McNally
Eder Militao (L) of Real Madrid and Timo Werner of Chelsea compete for the ball in the UEFA Champions League Semifinals first-leg game at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid, Spain, April 27, 2021. /AP

Eder Militao (L) of Real Madrid and Timo Werner of Chelsea compete for the ball in the UEFA Champions League Semifinals first-leg game at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid, Spain, April 27, 2021. /AP

When it was created following the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid taking on Chelsea in the tournament's semifinals was an exciting prospect. Somehow the footballing gods had set it up so the teams had only ever played each other three previous times: twice in the 1970/71 Cup Winners' Cup and in the UEFA Super Cup in 1998/99.

It's one of European football's rarest fixtures and the timing of it – both teams finally in the ascendancy – should have guaranteed that it would be a sensational game. Unfortunately, that timing also means the game comes a week after the mooted (officially suspended) European Super League (ESL).

The project is helmed by Real Madrid President Florentino Perez and initially featured Chelsea too as part of the Premier League "Big Six" who were intended to make up half of the 12 opening slots in the ESL.

Even if the mercenary mindset of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich means his side were one of the first to pull out of the project upon realizing it was hated by everybody outside the boardroom, he was still an initial participant.

That meant that last night's game – one of the biggest and most important in terms of form, one of the most unique in content – was something neither side really cared about deep down. Real Madrid and Chelsea had both intended to leave UEFA for their own breakaway league, rendering the Champions League a formality.

Christian Pulisic of Chelsea goes around keeper Thibault Courtois (#1) of Real Madrid to score in the UEFA Champions League Semifinals first-leg game at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, April 27, 2021. /CFP

Christian Pulisic of Chelsea goes around keeper Thibault Courtois (#1) of Real Madrid to score in the UEFA Champions League Semifinals first-leg game at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, April 27, 2021. /CFP

That feeling hung over the game like a pall, making the empty Estadio Alfredo di Stefano training ground feel totally lifeless.

Thankfully, in the immediacy, Thomas Tuchel and his Chelsea team still valued the test against European royalty. They came out swinging. Set up in 3-4-2-1, Chelsea were set up like a dagger; it left them exposed to Real's early probing attacks but also allowed them to move the ball quickly up the flanks and towards the goal.

It took barely 10 minutes for Tuchel's managerial genius to come to light. The exposure to Real started to look intentional; by giving them space to move through the middle, the backfield emptied out and the fast, young front three of Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount and Timo Werner surrounded then outpaced them.

In the ninth minute, Chelsea caught Real on the break and it was only goalkeeper Thibault Courtois that stopped Werner from finding the back of the net – and again, 50 seconds later. And, again, a minute after that when Cesar Azpilicueta curves a cross in that missed Werner's feet by centimeters.

Karim Benzema (#9) of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring a goal in the UEFA Champions League Semifinals first-leg game against Chelsea at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, April 27, 2021. /CFP

Karim Benzema (#9) of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring a goal in the UEFA Champions League Semifinals first-leg game against Chelsea at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, April 27, 2021. /CFP

With every shot, Chelsea's confidence improved and it was happening at pace. Madrid looked outplayed and leggy when penned back in their third. In the 14th minute, Antonio Rudiger lofted the ball from just inside the Chelsea half up to Pulisic. The American striker timed his run perfectly and broke the back line of Real while staying onside.

What shows just how mentally fatigued the La Liga side were is that, when Pulisic got the ball, he stopped in the box and rounded Courtois without anybody from Real interfering. They were frozen. Defender Marcelo jogged in so slow that he seemed more interested in waiting for Pulisic to make a mistake than actually trying and stop him from scoring.

Soon after going 1-0, the heavens above Madrid opened. It started as a trickle and soon became a deluge, leaving players from both sides slipping and sliding. Amidst the chaos, Benzema had an amazing shot from the edge of the Chelsea box and, luckily for the Blues, it pinged off the post.

It was an omen of the quality to come. Just before halftime, a Real attack created a corner. Toni Kroos to Luka Modric to Marcelo, then from far out, it went in to Caesmiro who headed it to Eder Militao. Militao headed it to Benzema who headed it to himself and then swiveled into a punctuating volley. It was a truly sublime team goal.

Though the weather cleared up, the pitch was still clearly soggy in the second half. Play was slower, players were off-pace and the game ended 1-1. Chelsea will rue the chances Werner missed but will be pleased with the away goal advantage. Typically, Real will wish they did more. However, as they wanted to leave this competition behind, maybe they don't mind. Maybe they want to be knocked out. Even though it's dead in the water, the ESL has already damaged the game.

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