Chelsea’s era-defining month is off to the worst possible start, and their fixtures show it gets harder from here

A month that might end with new owners could hardly have started any worse. Who’d have thought Chelsea would be in this position after Antonio Rudiger’s 35-yard screamer on Saturday? Stamford Bridge erupted as Rudiger wheeled away in celebration towards head coach Thomas Tuchel.

That was in the 48th minute against Brentford, and somehow what has followed since then is seven goals conceded in Chelsea’s next 90 minutes of football. Ad/> After the weekend’s 4-1 loss, by the 46th minute against Real Madrid on Wednesday night they were 3-1 down — it ended that way, too — with Rudiger playing a minor role but Edouard Mendy predominantly to blame when Karim Benzema rolled in the simplest of hat-trick goals.

Champions LeagueBenzema hat-trick heroics for Real Madrid leave holders Chelsea on the brink4 HOURS AGO Two sublime Benzema headers had already steered the Champions League tie in Real’s direction, and though Kai Havertz gave Chelsea hope, there is no denying the Blues have a mountain to climb in Madrid next week. /> Of course, anything is possible, but worrying signs are surfacing for Chelsea at just the wrong time.

Before next week’s second leg, they head to Southampton in the Premier League, and with Arsenal and Tottenham on their heels in the race for the top four, they can hardly afford to take their foot off the gas in the league. Benzema hat-trick heroics for Real Madrid leave holders Chelsea on the brink Former Disney chief Iger invited to join private equity group to take over Chelsea Chelsea fans protest Ricketts Family takeover as Supporters Trust deliver no-confidence vote Chelsea’s April April 2: Chelsea 1-4 Brentford — PL April 6: Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid — UCL April 9: Southampton v Chelsea — PL April 12: Real