Zinedine Zidane has to think it could have been a lot worse.
Against Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea, Real Madrid could only draw a home draw in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
A happy result as long as the people of Madrid seemed to overtake by the London block.
With this result, the "Blues" took an option for the qualification in the final.
This first semi-final was particularly scrutinized because it opposes two of the "twelve mutineers" of the Super League.
However, it is a place in the final of the Champions League which is played in an Alfredo Di Stephano stadium which suffers almost London showers.
It is also Real Madrid which suffers the flood inflicted by Chelsea.
Very comfortable in 3-4-3, Thomas Tuchel's men take the match on their own.
They pressed high and strong and sent the first offensives that the Madrid defensive trio Militao-Varane-Fernandez struggled to contain.
The "Blues" get the first big chance of the match.
Mount accelerates and finds Pulisic on a blocked strike.
The latter slips to Werner, forgotten full axis.
His volley shot straight on Courtois (10th).
A few moments later, on a long collective action containing a nice heel from N'Golo Kanté, Ben Chilwell files right side and crosses in force.
Timo Werner narrowly misses his recovery and Nacho pushes back for a corner (12th).
On an opening by Antonio Rüdiger, Christian Pulisic, covered by Marcelo, controls the left in the box.
He took the time to dribble and then bypass Thibaut Courtois before sending a shot that found the net despite the mass of defenders (14th).
Chelsea concretizes their clear domination.
Benzema keeps the Real afloat
Benzema sounds the revolt.
He is recovering from poor Rüdiger control.
He is also at the conclusion of the action.
His strike grazes the London skylight (22nd).
Then, on a corner played for two, the ball is sent to the far post and put away with a header.
Benzema controls the head and sends an unstoppable volley in the London cage (29th, 1-1).
An almost miraculous equalization with regard to the undivided domination of the “Blues”.
After the break, play resumes under the same auspices.
The Madrilenians lose their ball close to their surface and Kanté immediately slips it to Werner.
The German takes too long to strike and is countered (47th).
There follows a weak time where with two teams put down the play and connect the passes without finding their attackers or being dangerous.
To restart the match, Thomas Tuchel tries a poker stroke with the entries of Ziyech, Havertz and James in place of Azpilicueta, Werner and Pulisic.
A profitable attempt since the “Blues” regain the ascendancy thanks to the entrants who are struggling to materialize (70th, 73rd).
A skilfully executed free kick from Zyiech was blocked by Courtois.
The last big opportunity is however to be put to the credit of the "Merengues".
On a corner, the French defender Raphael Varane is forgotten at the penalty spot and places his head ... which does not find the frame, to the dismay of Sergio Ramos in the stands.
No winner therefore between the two formations but an advantage for Chelsea before receiving the return match on Wednesday 5 May.
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