Chelsea showed fight at Real Madrid but their season goes down as a failure after Champions League exit

Chelsea woke up on Tuesday in the mood. Thomas Tuchel had declared it mission “almost impossible”, with Manchester United – at PSG in 2019 – the only one of 43 sides in the Champions League era to have overturned a deficit of two or more goals when heading away for the second leg. Ad/> That was the size of the task.

Tuchel knew it, but he also dared his Chelsea side, the defending European champions, to “dream”. Ballon d'OrHow the Champions League impacts Ballon d’Or voting5 HOURS AGO From dangling by a thread, their defence firmed up as the evening went on, with the Santiago Bernabeu faithful left stunned as two Chelsea goals put the tie back level on aggregate with 40 minutes of normal time remaining. It was no more than Chelsea deserved.

A reward for their tenacity, with captain N’Golo Kante everywhere and Mason Mount looking particularly sharp, while Antonio Rudiger had not only kept Karim Benzema quiet but headed in their second on the night as well. A VAR call prevented them from taking a 3-0 lead, with the reprieve waking the Bernabeu crowd up somewhat, but eventually Timo Werner was coolness personified when scoring a third that counted for Chelsea. Benzema breaks Chelsea hearts as Real edge blockbuster in extra-time Suddenly the almost impossible was happening, with Chelsea heading towards a feat seldom seen in the Champions League, and towards the semi-finals too.

Then along comes Luka Modric. One touch to turn, another to set himself, then the third a pass with the outside of his right foot that will go down in the annals of football history. /> The assist to end all assists was finished thanks to a terrific first-time volley from Rodrygo, and having looked down and out, this moment of brilliance lifted Real’s