As Real Madrid made their trip to Stamford Bridge, Carlo Ancelotti couldn't help but joke and tell Karim Benzema a lie. "Karim couldn’t find his accreditation to get into the ground," the former AC Milan boss said to Prime Video in Italy. "I told him: ‘You aren’t playing tonight. I’ve had the masseur warm up.'"
The truth was much clearer in Ancelotti's assessment of his star striker's performance in his post-match press conference. He said: "Karim Benzema is getting better everyday... just like wine." At 34 years of age, and with hunger for more goals more active than anyone else on the pitch, it should be little surprise that the Italian coach replicated the scenes made at the Bernabeu following victory over PSG, with a warm embrace to celebrate Benzema's hat-trick.
Chelsea could only dream that anyone of less quality started up front for the La Liga leaders. An impressive back and forth spawned Benzema's opening header past Edouard Mendy, while the Frenchman's timely movement to pull off the back of Thiago Silva allowed him to nod in for a second time. Mendy shortchanged Antonio Rudiger with a pass near the halfway line allowing Benzema to nip in and knock into an open goal from distance. A finish the masseuse might have even been able to handle.
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Benzema lived up to Thomas Tuchel's pre-match appraisal and solidified his place as the world's leading striker against the Blues. The 34-year-old notched his 37th goal of the season from 36 appearances, with 13 assists to account for too.
It's impossible not to contrast the pivotal role he has played in Los Blanco's Champions League campaign so far with the Blues' struggles in the forward position. The Blues' most prolific scorer remains Romelu Lukaku on 12 goals in 36 appearances, whose goals per 90 minutes, just edges his teammate Kai Havertz, who has also recorded a dozen strikes.
Benzema scored his hat-trick from four shots during his 86 minutes on the pitch, and showed a cutting edge Tuchel's side have often lacked this season. The Blues in comparison amassed 20 shots at Stamford Bridge but could not manage more than five on target.
The Real star may have produced the standout performance of the quarter-final first leg, while Chelsea put in one that left Tuchel ruling his side out of contention for the return leg next week, however Havertz still managed to leave a lasting impression.
The German international managed to record six shots of his own, the highlight being another headed finish, this time from a pinpoint Jorginho cross. Much like he did against Brentford, Havertz remained up for the fight when the Blues were down and under pressure, and had the composure to feed key passes so that only his Italian teammate surpassed him.
Of his six attempts on goal, half were blocked however, highlighting a key issue of the positions his opportunities arise, and the areas the Blues must look to place the forward in to find success. Havertz is still early in his striking career, and at 22, is still fresh at the elite level of European football more generally. At the same age Benzema was at the start of his Real Madrid career having completed his transfer from Lyon.
The evening once again reinforced Havertz's position ahead of Lukaku in Tuchel's starting XI. The Belgian striker's outing will be remembered for two missed headers, the latter of which saw Thibaut Courtois stranded but with the former Inter star unable to direct a looping ball on target. His coach knew how big a miss it was.
Tuchel said: "It was very important. There are no longer away goals so if we have only a one-goal deficit or a draw, then you see the momentum is back when we score. We could have even equalise. There were a lot of spaces and chances. But the individual decisions today were far from our level of standards.
"But yes, to come back with a chance like this at 3-2, after 16 shots in the second half alone, then goals are crucial. We didn't get them. We gave the third one away. It is simply impossible. We cannot demand that we turn it around if this is our foundation for this game."
The difference in clinical edge separated the sides on Wednesday night. Chelsea will need to be ruthless to retain any hope of progress and will need to somehow stifle Benzema. The Blues will be relying on Havertz to help flip the script.
