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Christian Pulisic\u2019s fine strike handed Chelsea a 1-1 Champions League semi-final first leg draw at Real Madrid on a sodden night where Timo Werner spurned two gilt-edged chances.<\/p>\nChristian Pulisic\u2019s fine strike handed Chelsea a 1-1 Champions League semi-final first leg draw at Real Madrid on a sodden night where Timo Werner spurned two gilt-edged chances.<\/p>\n
Karim Benzema\u2019s peerless exhibition of clinical marksmanship rescued the draw for a Real side muddled by a change of formation and the Blues\u2019 technical and tactical acumen.<\/p>\n
Pulisic became the first man to score past former Chelsea stopper Thibaut Courtois in six hours and 44 minutes, as the Blues enjoyed a stellar opening.<\/p>\n
Werner\u2019s flimsy finish allowed Courtois to produce a short-range save when the Germany forward should have powered into the net.<\/p>\n
And the ex-RB Leipzig striker was unable to convert another big opening, failing to connect with Pulisic\u2019s cross at Madrid\u2019s Alfredo Di Stefano training ground stadium.<\/p>\n
Chelsea will still occupy the box seat for the return leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, May 5, with Thomas Tuchel\u2019s men producing another hugely impressive performance.<\/p>\n
But despite boasting that potentially pivotal away goal, the west Londoners will be forgiven for wondering what might have been had Werner netted one or both of his prime chances.<\/p>\n
Madrid paid the price for a quizzical switch to three at the back straight from the off.<\/p>\n
Werner should have scored before the game had even settled, but instead he side-footed straight at Courtois.<\/p>\n
Pulisic\u2019s unselfish header across goal begged to be blasted into the net, but Werner\u2019s tentative effort handed the ex-Chelsea keeper the chance to parry clear.<\/p>\n
Pulisic was in no mood to waste an opening however, and his decisive strike put the Blues 1-0 up in the 14th minute.<\/p>\n
Antonio Rudiger\u2019s sumptuous lofted ball caught Real out at the back, allowing Pulisic to spring whatever offside trap there was and power into the box.<\/p>\n
The USA forward stayed calm as Courtois raced out, stepping round the keeper before powering home.<\/p>\n
So poor were Madrid that Chelsea were able to canter into the final third almost at will once past the hosts\u2019 porous midfield three.<\/p>\n
Benzema produced the first threat for Real however, thundering a 20-yard effort against a post.<\/p>\n
And the French striker then conjured an equalizer of the highest quality just before the half hour, cushioning a header to himself six yards out \u2013 then flashing a snap volley past the helpless Edouard Mendy.<\/p>\n
With Chelsea\u2019s scoreboard dominance cancelled out in one stellar moment, Tuchel\u2019s unperturbed men set about taking the game to Madrid once more.<\/p>\n
Had Werner connected with Pulisic\u2019s teasing cross, Chelsea would have taken the lead again.<\/p>\n
The Germany forward still found time to screw a shot wide of the near post when Mason Mount was lurking in the center of the box.<\/p>\n
And so the scores stayed locked at 1-1 at the break, with both sides showing signs of fatigue in a circumspect third quarter.<\/p>\n
Marcelo\u2019s yellow card for a professional foul on the marauding Pulisic just past the hour allowed Madrid to send in ex-Chelsea talisman Hazard, on for Vinicius Junior.<\/p>\n
Chelsea sent Reece James, Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz into the fray, with both managers determined to wrestle control of the tie.<\/p>\n
Real switched to a back four for the closing 15 minutes and were almost caught out straight away, with Raphael Varane felling Havertz and earning a yellow card for his troubles.<\/p>\n
Ziyech angled the resulting free-kick on goal, but Courtois comfortably gloved the effort.<\/p>\n