This was so nearly a Champions League comeback for the ages, Chelsea on the verge of producing a miracle in Madrid to muster up the most remarkable defence of their crown.
They scored four goals, for so long without reply from Real Madrid, three of which stood, and yet they are still going out of the tournament.
They do not deserve to be, but Real are the all-time kings of Europe for a reason. They find a way through these moments and it was two of the legends of this competition who clawed them back from the brink.
Luka Modric’s incredible through-ball provided substitute Rodrygo with the chance to take the game to extra-time with Real trailing 3-0.
And then, in extra-time, Karim Benzema scored his fourth goal of the tie to end Chelsea’s reign as European champions, making the score 3-2 on the night and 5-4 on aggregate.
It was cruel – but this should be a night of enormous pride for Thomas Tuchel and his side. They were outstanding, besting Real in every department and just coming up short.
On a night for heroes, it feels cruel to labour over the errors that ultimately cost them over the two legs.
The mix-up between Edouard Mendy and Toni Rudiger to give Benzema his hat-trick goal in the first leg, and Romelu Lukaku’s failure to hit the target from six yards, leaving Chelsea with a mountainous task in Spain.
And in this match, with the game heading for extra time, substitute Christian Pulisic’s inability to take one of two chances from point-blank range, coming back to haunt them when Benzema headed the winning goal.
Even late on in extra-time both Kai Havertz and Jorginho failed to hit the target with clear chances.
Chelsea were superb. They made a mockery of Tuchel’s claim after the 3-1 first leg defeat that the tie was dead.
The German was emotional that night at Stamford Bridge and, no doubt, chastened by his team’s ragged performance that Benzema exploited so ruthlessly.
But an early goal in Madrid and it was always going to be game on.
That duly arrived through Mason Mount, who burst into the box in the 15th minute and swept a shot past Thibaut Courtois to spark belief in the travelling fans that the miracle comeback was on.
Chelsea were brilliant in that first half, with N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek overrunning Real’s midfield.
Timo Werner was a constant nuisance picking up positions between the full-backs and centre-backs, playing on the shoulder. Real were dragged out of shape and did not know whether to step up or drop back to try to handle him.
Mount and Havertz used that uncertainty to their advantage, picking holes in the Real rear-guard and getting into dangerous areas themselves.
Most notable was Benzema’s lack of influence in comparison to the first leg. He was denied the space to attack, with Real given little opportunity to provide the kind of service he thrived on at the Bridge.
Chelsea deserved their advantage at the break and they deserved to go 2-0 up when Rudiger’s header beat the dive of Courtois six minutes into the second half.
The visitors continued to overrun their opponents and it was from a Mount corner that Rudiger levelled the tie on aggregate.
Chelsea thought they were ahead just past the hour-mark when Marcos Alonso lashed a shot into the top corner with his right foot.
Frenzied celebrations ensued and it felt like Real were in full meltdown until VAR came to their rescue, ruling the goal out for a handball from Alonso.
It was a potential turning point and the danger for Chelsea was that the reprieve would breathe new life into Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
It certainly felt that way when Benzema – shackled throughout – headed goal-wards, only to see his effort come off the bar.
To Chelsea’s credit, they did not feel sorry for themselves and went ahead for the first time in the tie through a brilliant Werner goal after 75 minutes.
The German looked to have wasted the chance after being fed by Kovacic, but skipped the challenges of Casemiro and David Alaba before finding the far corner.
It should have been four shortly after when Havertz’s powerful header was parried by Courtois.
This time Real did take advantage of another let off, with substitute Rodrygo volleying home the most spectacular pass from Modric.
Still it was Chelsea who had the chances to win it in 90 minutes, with Pulisic coming off the bench to volley two close-range efforts over.
Those misses ultimately cost Chelsea with Benzema heading in Vinicius Junior’s cross after Rudiger slipped when trying to get to the France striker.
It was cruel – but, even in defeat, Chelsea legends were created on this night.
