In the run-up to the Champions League semi-final return leg against Real, Chelsea were the favorites. Moreover, we are talking not only about bookmaker quotes, but also statistics. Firstly, in the entire history, Londoners have never been inferior to their rivals in international tournaments - they won twice, and two more meetings were drawn. Secondly, Madrid themselves have not won away from the representatives of Foggy Albion for a very long time. In the last four games, they have scored only twice, and the last time they achieved success back in 2014 in the match against Liverpool, however, this happened not in the playoffs, but only in the group stage.
It is worth noting that Real did not have to interrupt a bad streak against English teams and beat Chelsea by all means. To make it to the Champions League final for a record, 17th time, Zinedine Zidane's team had enough effective draw with four or more goals scored. But it would be difficult to implement such a plan, even despite the presence of Karim Benzema and Eden Azar, who recovered from injury. In the current competition, the Blues have never conceded more than one goal per game, in total, only allowing Edouard Mendy to be upset four times. Apart from them, only Manchester City were also slender in defense.
But if in the attacking line of the royal club arrived, then in the defensive line, on the contrary, there were problems. Dani Carvajal was seriously injured in the first leg of the semi-final and was eliminated before July, while Rafael Varane was injured in the La Liga game against Osasuna. Taking into account the absence of Lucas Vasquez, Eder Militao was forced to settle on the right flank of the defense, Nacho Fernandez and Sergio Ramos, who had recently been discharged from the hospital, were in the center, and Ferlan Mendy came out on the left.
In turn, Thomas Tuchel still could not rely only on Mateo Kovacic, so he did without serious personnel changes. Nevertheless, one was still produced. Kai Havertz has earned a chance to prove himself at the base, having issued a double against Fulham in the Premier League. But hardly anyone could have imagined that Christian Pulisic would be in reserve, and not Timo Werner. The German, who had forgotten how to score, made a duet with his compatriot, and Mason Mount was again located under them.
In the opening, the hosts gave the ball to their opponents and made a reasonable bet on counterattacks, relying on the speed of Mount and Werner.
And several times it almost paid off.
The same Mason made a great break on the left edge and shot into the center, where Thibaut Courtois interrupted the transfer, and Timo completely hit the opponent's goal.
The German took full advantage of his moment, but got into an offside position a little, so the goal was not counted.
As for Real, it has long been unable to break through Chelsea's massive defenses.
In these conditions, it remained to rely on long-range strikes.
But if the attempts of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric were not particularly dangerous, then the "shot" of Karim Benzema became a serious test for Mendy.
The Frenchman famously turned around and struck powerfully into the near corner, but the goalkeeper turned the ball to the corner.
With every minute the advantage of Real Madrid became more and more distinct and it seemed that a goal was brewing, but it was at this moment that Chelsea launched a crushing counterattack.
The main character of the episode was N'Golo Kante.
The Frenchman played on the “wall” with Werner and left two defenders of the opponent out of work, after which he brought Havertz to the shock position.
Kai's elegant throw behind Courtois's back ended with a hit to the post, but Timo was the first to hit the ball.
The German failed to miss from a meter and interrupted the seven-match dry streak in the Champions League.
At the end of the first 45 minutes, Zidane had no reason to be happy.
“Real” went for a break in the role of catch-up and although it played the first number, it could not make the opponents' defenders panic.
Yes, Benzema had another great moment to restore the balance in the account, but Mendy reacted to a point-blank header.
And the hosts made the debut of the second half more successfully.
First Havertz shook the crossbar for the second time, and then Thiago Silva and Mason Mount shot above the gate.
As the second half progressed, Real's prospects began to seem more and more ghostly.
Positional attacks did not give results, and counterpressing attempts often ended in dangerous counter-attacks of the enemy.
And by the 66th minute, the advantage of Chelsea could well have been calculated not by one, but by two or three goals, if not for the dedication of Courtois and the extravagance of the hosts.
At first, the goalkeeper did not allow Havertz and Werner to realize a two-on-one exit, and then parried the blow of the ubiquitous Kante.
Zidane tried to revive the game of his team through substitutions. Federico Valverde and Marco Asensio appeared on the field, and later Rodrigo, but the Londoners' defense could not create any difficulties. Madrid approached the opponent's penalty area, but none of the attempts to get into it ended in success. And in the 85th minute Tuchel's substitution played. Christian Pulisic received a pass in the penalty area, pulled off not only Nacho, but Courtois, and then shot at Mount. The Englishman was more careful about his chance than his teammates from Germany, and predetermined the outcome of the match.
Chelsea took over Real Madrid and made their third Champions League final against Manchester City. Thus, the main trophy of the competition for the third time in history and for the second time over the past three years will be determined in the rivalry between the two English teams. In 2019, Liverpool and Tottenham fought for the cup, and 11 years earlier, Londoners played with another team from Manchester in Moscow. Then the main and extra time ended in a draw, and in the penalty shootout everything was decided by the miss of the captain of the blue, John Terry.
Thomas Tuchel is also worth mentioning. The German not only managed to repeat the achievements of Abraham Grant and Roberto Di Matteo and lead Chelsea to the Champions League final, leading the team during the season. He also became the first coach in history to make it to the decisive stage of a tournament two years in a row with different teams. In 2020, Paris Saint-Germain, led by him, fought for the trophy with Bayern, but lost.