• CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 4: Helpless in first half as Vinicius Junior hit bar and Benzema sent two perfect headers into the net. Catastrophic pass to Rudiger gifted Benzema his hat-trick for Real's crucial third and looked shaky for rest of game. AFP
    CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 4: Helpless in first half as Vinicius Junior hit bar and Benzema sent two perfect headers into the net. Catastrophic pass to Rudiger gifted Benzema his hat-trick for Real's crucial third and looked shaky for rest of game. AFP
  • Andreas Christensen - 4: In right place to clear after Mendy saved from Valverde as Real threatened to make it 3-0 but generally given torrid time by Vinicius Junior. Hooked at break. EPA
    Andreas Christensen - 4: In right place to clear after Mendy saved from Valverde as Real threatened to make it 3-0 but generally given torrid time by Vinicius Junior. Hooked at break. EPA
  • Thiago Silva - 6: Textbook defending from veteran Brazilian defender with well-timed block on compatriot Vinicius Junior. Couldn’t handle Benzema’s movement ahead of second goal. Headed chance over himself in 39th minute. EPA
    Thiago Silva - 6: Textbook defending from veteran Brazilian defender with well-timed block on compatriot Vinicius Junior. Couldn’t handle Benzema’s movement ahead of second goal. Headed chance over himself in 39th minute. EPA
  • Antonio Rudiger - 5: German was booked in opening 20 minutes for cynical trip on Valverde which might explain his weak challenge on Benzema before Frenchman scored his third following dire Mendy pass. AP
    Antonio Rudiger - 5: German was booked in opening 20 minutes for cynical trip on Valverde which might explain his weak challenge on Benzema before Frenchman scored his third following dire Mendy pass. AP
  • Jorginho - 6: Seemed helpless as Real ran riot in first half until producing pinpoint ball to pick on Havertz for German to head home and make it 2-1. Getty
    Jorginho - 6: Seemed helpless as Real ran riot in first half until producing pinpoint ball to pick on Havertz for German to head home and make it 2-1. Getty
  • N’Golo Kante - 6: Trademark tackle and fine ball forward set up early chance for Havertz. Fired shot from distance well over. Also hooked at half-time, assuming due to injury as there was more obvious choices. AFP
    N’Golo Kante - 6: Trademark tackle and fine ball forward set up early chance for Havertz. Fired shot from distance well over. Also hooked at half-time, assuming due to injury as there was more obvious choices. AFP
  • Reece James - 7: Lovely turn in first half to bamboozle Casemiro and saw curling free-kick saved by Courtois. Conceded needless corner that Militao headed straight at keeper. Had low shot saved by keeper late on. AFP
    Reece James - 7: Lovely turn in first half to bamboozle Casemiro and saw curling free-kick saved by Courtois. Conceded needless corner that Militao headed straight at keeper. Had low shot saved by keeper late on. AFP
  • Cesar Azpilicueta - 5: Captain found Valverde a handful down his left flank. Powerful strike was heading for top corner until Courtois produced fine save just after half-time. EPA
    Cesar Azpilicueta - 5: Captain found Valverde a handful down his left flank. Powerful strike was heading for top corner until Courtois produced fine save just after half-time. EPA
  • Mason Mount 6: Urged forward at start by Tuchel and flashed dangerous early ball across box and looked like it was going to his night. But didn’t really make another big impact on game until curling finish on to roof of net with 20 minutes to go. AP
    Mason Mount 6: Urged forward at start by Tuchel and flashed dangerous early ball across box and looked like it was going to his night. But didn’t really make another big impact on game until curling finish on to roof of net with 20 minutes to go. AP
  • Christian Pulisic - 4: American attacker kept very quiet by Real defence and offered little threat. The fact he started ahead of Lukaku shows how far the Belgian has fallen down the pecking order. AP
    Christian Pulisic - 4: American attacker kept very quiet by Real defence and offered little threat. The fact he started ahead of Lukaku shows how far the Belgian has fallen down the pecking order. AP
  • Kai Havertz - 7: Fired shot over bar in fifth minute. Headed Chelsea back into game five minutes before break and comfortably their biggest attacking threat. Reuters
    Kai Havertz - 7: Fired shot over bar in fifth minute. Headed Chelsea back into game five minutes before break and comfortably their biggest attacking threat. Reuters
  • SUBS: Hakim Ziyech – (On for Kante 46’) 5: Moroccan didn’t really give Chelsea the extra attacking impetus they were after and drilled a left-footed shot over bar in injury time when well placed. PA
    SUBS: Hakim Ziyech – (On for Kante 46’) 5: Moroccan didn’t really give Chelsea the extra attacking impetus they were after and drilled a left-footed shot over bar in injury time when well placed. PA
  • Mateo Kovacic – (On for Christensen 46’) 6: Brought on to give Chelsea a midfield boost but could only look on in horror as Mendy and Rudiger contrived to gift Real a third right after half-time. AP
    Mateo Kovacic – (On for Christensen 46’) 6: Brought on to give Chelsea a midfield boost but could only look on in horror as Mendy and Rudiger contrived to gift Real a third right after half-time. AP
  • Romelu Lukaku – (Pulisic 64’) 4: Belgian striker missed two headed chances soon after coming on, the second of which he should have finished. Badly short of confidence for his club and doesn't look like he wants to be there. PA
    Romelu Lukaku – (Pulisic 64’) 4: Belgian striker missed two headed chances soon after coming on, the second of which he should have finished. Badly short of confidence for his club and doesn't look like he wants to be there. PA
  • Ruben Loftus-Cheek – (Jorginho 64’) 5: The midfield battle was already being lost but Loftus-Cheek did nothing to change that after coming on. Getty
    Ruben Loftus-Cheek – (Jorginho 64’) 5: The midfield battle was already being lost but Loftus-Cheek did nothing to change that after coming on. Getty
  • REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 7: Former Chelsea keeper, booed by home fans from off, made solid save from James free-kick and got hand on but couldn’t keep out Havertz’ header in first half. Great one-handed stop from Azpilicueta shot. PA
    REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 7: Former Chelsea keeper, booed by home fans from off, made solid save from James free-kick and got hand on but couldn’t keep out Havertz’ header in first half. Great one-handed stop from Azpilicueta shot. PA
  • Dani Carvajal - 8: On his toes in opening minute to clear dangerous Mount cross and impressive performance throughout from experienced full-back. Getty
    Dani Carvajal - 8: On his toes in opening minute to clear dangerous Mount cross and impressive performance throughout from experienced full-back. Getty
  • Eder Militao - 7: Speculative long-range shot in fourth minute saved down low by Mendy. Booked in first 20 minutes for hauling down on Havertz. Barely gave Pulisic a kick but limped off injured in second half. AFP
    Eder Militao - 7: Speculative long-range shot in fourth minute saved down low by Mendy. Booked in first 20 minutes for hauling down on Havertz. Barely gave Pulisic a kick but limped off injured in second half. AFP
  • David Alaba - 8: Important challenge to prevent Havertz getting free shot in goal early on in what was Austrian's 100th Champions League game. Immense at the back. Getty
    David Alaba - 8: Important challenge to prevent Havertz getting free shot in goal early on in what was Austrian's 100th Champions League game. Immense at the back. Getty
  • Ferland Mendy - 7: Under early pressure from James and Mount but French left-back regained his composure and was solid throughout. AFP
    Ferland Mendy - 7: Under early pressure from James and Mount but French left-back regained his composure and was solid throughout. AFP
  • Luka Modric - 8: What a ball from Croatian to pick out Benzema in the box for striker’s second. The veteran midfielder continues to have a major influence on big games. AFP
    Luka Modric - 8: What a ball from Croatian to pick out Benzema in the box for striker’s second. The veteran midfielder continues to have a major influence on big games. AFP
  • Casemiro - 8: Had home fans demanding penalty after challenge on Havertz but was waved away from referee. Some crunching tackles and helped Real win midfield battle. AFP
    Casemiro - 8: Had home fans demanding penalty after challenge on Havertz but was waved away from referee. Some crunching tackles and helped Real win midfield battle. AFP
  • Toni Kroos - 7: Passing masterclass in midfield with Modric for an hour but was starting to look tired before being taken off with 16 minutes left. AFP
    Toni Kroos - 7: Passing masterclass in midfield with Modric for an hour but was starting to look tired before being taken off with 16 minutes left. AFP
  • Federico Valverde - 8: Played down the right and caused Chelsea plenty of problems, particularly in opening 45 minutes. AP
    Federico Valverde - 8: Played down the right and caused Chelsea plenty of problems, particularly in opening 45 minutes. AP
  • Karim Benzema – 9.5: Two brilliant headers put Real in charge of quarter-final – one powered, one placed. Then put easy shot wide to miss out on first-half treble but his third did come just after break thanks to Chelsea’s disastrous defending. Reuters
    Karim Benzema – 9.5: Two brilliant headers put Real in charge of quarter-final – one powered, one placed. Then put easy shot wide to miss out on first-half treble but his third did come just after break thanks to Chelsea’s disastrous defending. Reuters
  • Vinicius Junior - 9: Rattled crossbar with 10th-minute strike when he should have scored. Perfect cross to pick out Benzema for Frenchman’s opener and was sensational out wide in the first 45 minutes when he made Christensen’s life a misery. AFP
    Vinicius Junior - 9: Rattled crossbar with 10th-minute strike when he should have scored. Perfect cross to pick out Benzema for Frenchman’s opener and was sensational out wide in the first 45 minutes when he made Christensen’s life a misery. AFP
  • SUBS: Nacho – (On for Militao 65’) 7: Good block on Mount shot with 10 minutes to go. EPA
    SUBS: Nacho – (On for Militao 65’) 7: Good block on Mount shot with 10 minutes to go. EPA
  • Eduardo Camavinga – (On for Kroos 74’) 6: Came on for a shattered Kroos and helped Real see out the match with a 3-1 advantage. Getty
    Eduardo Camavinga – (On for Kroos 74’) 6: Came on for a shattered Kroos and helped Real see out the match with a 3-1 advantage. Getty
  • Gareth Bale – (On for Benzema 86’) N/A. AFP
    Gareth Bale – (On for Benzema 86’) N/A. AFP
  • Dani Ceballos – (Valverdy 86’) N/A. Reuters
    Dani Ceballos – (Valverdy 86’) N/A. Reuters

Chelsea v Real Madrid player ratings: Havertz 7, Mendy 4; Benzema 9.5, Vinicius Jr 9


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Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema scored another Champions League hat-trick as the Spanish side defeated Chelsea 3-1 in Wednesday's quarter-final first leg at Stamford Bridge.

The 34-year-old Frenchman, who netted a treble to knock Paris Saint-Germain out in the last-16, repeated the trick in London.

He notched two brilliant first-half headers – after perfect balls into the box by the excellent Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric – and should have grabbed a third when he shot wide when well placed with his easiest chance before the break.

Chelsea, though, were given a lifeline after 40 minutes when Kai Havertz headed home a fine pass from Jorginho.

But their hopes of making a quick impact after the break were blown away when goalkeeper Edouard Mendy's poor pass seconds after the restart gifted Benzema an easy third.

Romelu Lukaku missed two headed opportunities after coming on in the second half leaving Chelsea with a mountain to climb when the two teams meet again at the Bernabeu next Tuesday.

You can see our player ratings from Wednesday's match in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

Updated: April 07, 2022, 3:35 AM