2-0 – Rodrygo brings Real Madrid closer to defending their title

Real Madrid have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the eleventh time in the past 13 years. The defending champion, in which ÖFB captain David Alaba was substituted at the break, also won 2-0 in London after beating Chelsea 2-0 at home and is again one of the four best teams in Europe.

AC Milan also mastered this step, playing 1-1 (1-0) at SSC Napoli in the Italian north-south duel and rising with an overall score of 2-1.

Rodrygo was the Madrilenian match winner with a brace (58th, 80th). In the semifinals in May, the opponent is either Manchester City or Bayern Munich (first leg 3-0). Olivier Giroud gave Milan the lead in Napoli in the 43rd minute, Victor Osimhen’s equalizer came too late (93′).

In the semifinals, the winner from Inter Milan is waiting against Benfica Lisbon. A city duel is likely as Inter won the first leg 2-0 in Portugal.

Chelsea started powerfully and also had chances to score. N’golo Kante missed miserably in front of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and shot wide of the target (11th). On the other hand, Real striker Rodrygo only hit the outer post (20th). In injury time in the first half, Marc Cucurella failed from five meters at the Belgian Real keeper (45 + 1).

After the break, coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team countered to win: Rodrygo ran through on the right and served Vinicius Junior. He played back to his Brazilian compatriot, who converted from close range. Chelsea interim coach Frank Lampard’s team then had no answer ready. On the contrary: Rodrygo scored another goal in the 80th minute.

Two penalties were mitigated

At the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, the Neapolitans tried to equalize the 0-1 draw from the first leg – but failed. The Milanese recorded the top-class chances: After a foul by Mario Rui on Milan star Rafael Leao, there was a penalty for the guests (22nd). However, Giroud failed because of the well-reacting SSC keeper Alex Meret.

But the game continued to go against the hosts. First, Matteo Politano and Rui had to be replaced injured (34′), then SSC coach Luciano Spalletti’s team did not receive a penalty after Leao fouled substitute Hirving Lozano in the penalty area (36′).

Finally, Leao took center stage again as he ran past three Napoli players on a tempo counterattack and made an exemplary pass to Giroud, who netted easily this time.

Napoli were also unsuccessful in their offensive efforts for a long time in the second period, and star striker Osimhen was only rarely able to bring himself to the fore. There was hope in the 82nd minute when Fikayo Tomori’s unlucky handball gave Spalletti’s side a penalty, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was also denied from the point by AC goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

It was not until the 93rd minute that Osimhen managed to equalize with a header, too little for extra time. Milan is thus in the CL semifinals for the first time in 16 years.