Real Madrid beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final and it was a performance that will have left Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger scratching his head.
Not even half an hour had elapsed and Karim Benzema had rocked Stamford Bridge, two excellent headers putting Real Madrid in firm control of the first leg. Kai Havertz threatened to drag the Blues back into the contest only for an uncharacteristic error from Edouard Mendy to gift Benzema his hat-trick with less than a minute of the second half played.
It was a result that left many watching on shocked. Last season saw a resolute Chelsea defence carry the club to their second European crown but that toughness at the back appears to have vanished.
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"We have to find our level back," a despondent Thomas Tuchel told his press conference after full-time. "I don't know where it is since the international break. The first half is a repetition of the second half against Brentford in a quarter-final against Real Madrid.
"So far off our level in absolutely everything the game demands, we can't expect a result from this kind of performance. We have to get things ready for Saturday. Not think about the Bernabeu today. Saturday we face Southampton and if we continue to play like this, we will not get a point."
Despite Real Madrid's brilliant comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16, many pundits tipped Chelsea to progress to the semi-finals to face either Manchester City or Atletico Madrid. One of those who was proven wrong about the first-leg specifically was Wenger.
Speaking on beIN SPORTS coverage of the game ahead of kick-off, Wenger said: "The real quality of a team is where you are in the championship. Real Madrid is top of the league. Chelsea is 14 points behind [Manchester] City after having been eight points in front in September. But let's not forget, the Premier League is the dominant championship.
"The Premier League today is above all the other teams in Europe. It's killing the Champions League a bit as well. I would say tonight, Real Madrid is certainly technically very mature. But Chelsea can play at a higher pace with more movement. For me that is what you want to see tonight. How Real Madrid will cope with the pace and movement of Chelsea.
"Madrid is, as well, over dependant on Benzema. If Benzema is not having a great night, you cannot see who will score goals."
Unfortunately for Chelsea, Benzema had a great night.
