Following a 2-0 loss in the second leg of the quarterfinal match against the reigning champions at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, Chelsea was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League after falling behind Real Madrid 0-4 on aggregate.
In what has been a difficult season thus far, Frank Lampard’s team needed to reduce the previous two-goal disadvantage from the first leg to have a chance at the trophy. Yet, Rodrygo’s brace kept the Blues’ turbulent season going. Once Lampard was named interim manager, Chelsea, who had dropped three straight games, got off to a strong start. The team, though, struggled to take chances, and it was the same old narrative for them.
Currently 11th in the Premier League and 17 points away from Champions League spots with seven games left, the Blues face a season outside of Europe’s top competition.
Conor Gallagher was selected as the starting midfielder, and Raheem Sterling was benched by the interim manager instead of filling his team with offensive weapons.
N’Golo Kante spurned two really good opportunities to score as he rushed his first-time shot and ended up hitting it well wide of the goal. Chelsea continued to be a threat, and fans were appreciative of it, but the visitors soon gained a stronghold in the game. Rodrygo forced Kepa Arrizabalaga to make a save from near the post. Luka Modric, the evergreen star, also tested the Blues from that position.
Soon after the interval, Kante missed another opportunity after Militao blocked his effort.
In the build-up, Rodrygo was given a tonne of room on Chelsea’s left flank, and the 22-year-old was then in the ideal spot at the ideal time to score from Vinicius’ selfless cut-back. The scoreline went 1-0 in favour of Real Madrid in the 58th minute.
Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix, and Mykhailo Mudryk were added by Lampard, but it was already too late. In the 80th minute, Rodrygo added another goal to his tally, taking his side home and into the semifinal.
Real Madrid is likely to meet Manchester City in the Champions League semifinal, with Pep Guardiola’s team taking a 3-0 lead into the second leg of their quarterfinal match against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.