Real Madrid 2-3 Chelsea (5-4 on agg): Player ratings as VAR denies Blues dream comeback
The Blues hopes of completing a miraculous Champions League comeback fell apart after they could only manage a 3-2 victory at Real Madrid after extra-time.
Los Blancos threw away their two-goal advantage before striking late on to extend the tie for another 30 minutes, during which Karim Benzema stepped up again to send them into the semi-finals at the expense of the holders with a 5-4 aggregate win.
Alonso makes it 3-0 for Chelsea but VAR rules it out and claimed it was an handball..
Below are Chelsea player ratings:
5. Goalkeeper & defenders: Edouard Mendy (GK) – 6/10 – Not much he could do about either goal.
Reece James (RB) – 6/10 – Booked after just 10 minutes for a foul on the edge of his own area. A testing first-half but was much more comfortable afterwards.
Thiago Silva (CB) – 5/10 – Looked rather wily throughout, again.
Antonio Rudiger (CB) – 7/10 – So close to a supreme performance, with his extra-time slip ultimately costing his side. Was otherwise phenomenal on what could have created great leverage for his contract negotiations.
Marcos Alonso (LB) – 7/10 – Real Madrid didn’t really have a solution to stop Alonso other than hope Carvajal got lucky every now and then.
6. Midfielders
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (CM) – 7/10 – Where did this performance come from? Used his physicality to bulldoze his way through the Real Madrid midfield, making mincemeat of Casemiro and Kroos.
N’Golo Kante (CM) – 5/10 – Swept up well but was loose in possession. Sacrificed to bring on another attacker in Ziyech.
Mateo Kovacic (CM) – 7/10 – Had real joy driving and weaving his way across a pitch that he used to call his home.
Mason Mount (AM) – 8/10 – Chelsea’s glue guy stood up when his team needed him once again. A well-earned goal and assist.
7. Forwards: Kai Havertz (CF) – 5/10 – Had some neat touches and dribbles but didn’t look like taking the game by the scruff of the neck.
Timo Werner (CF) – 8/10 – A constant thorn in Real Madrid’s side, fully deserving of his goal. The hosts would have been glad to see him being substituted.
8. Substitutes: Christian Pulisic (83′, CF for Werner) – 6/10 – Came on and was busy, but decidedly wasteful.
Hakim Ziyech (99′, AM for Kante) – 5/10
Saul Niguez (106′, CM for Loftus-Cheek) – 5/10
Jorginho (106′, CM for Kovacic) – 5/10