For the 11th time in 13 seasons (mercy me), Real Madrid are through to the Champions League semifinals after Rodrygo's second-half brace at Stamford Bridge put the finishing touches on a commanding 4-0 aggregate victory over Chelsea.
After losing 2-0 at the Bernabéu, Chelsea again adopted a defensive approach with the back five protected by Enzo Fernández, Mateo Kovačić and N'Golo Kanté, leaving Kai Havertz and Conor Gallagher as the main attacking threats. Christian Pulisic, João Félix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Hakim Ziyech and Mason Mount were all left to question Frank Lampard's judgement from the bench.
But they've all had their chances and failed to take them, so on Tuesday it was time for Kanté and Marc Cucurella (with time and space from five yards out) to provide the early misses that allowed Real to stroll in the second half.
Former Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois with an outstanding save. pic.twitter.com/sKbKBMzoeD
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 18, 2023
It made sense for Lampard to stand pat with his XI to start the second 45, but it became clear that changes were needed within the first 10 minutes. That didn't happen, and Rodrygo scored his first in the 58th.
RODRYGO SILENCES STAMFORD BRIDGE. pic.twitter.com/hp4qBFbbne
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 18, 2023
Down 3-0, Lampard waited nearly 10 minutes to finally make a change. No subs got on until the 68th, and then Pulisic was left on the bench while Mudryk got to go in that awkward wingback spot that Chelsea wingers hate.
Mudryk sent one shot so far over that Clive Tyldesley thought it got deflected and the CBS Sports Golazo Twitter account did him a favor by only showing the turn. It was comically bad.
This touch and turn from Mykhailo Mudryk. pic.twitter.com/IDGl14ZALe
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 18, 2023
Rodrygo's second is what 4-0 looks like in goal form.
Tie over.
Rodrygo and doubles his tally on the day. pic.twitter.com/iIAY1VX6HS— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 18, 2023
We can again present to you Pulisic's heat map.
Maybe Chelsea's new permanent manager is a huge fan of Pulisic's game and decides to keep him, but the much more likely scenario is that he's got seven matches left in his Blues career.
Real Madrid's now on a collision course with Manchester City (up 3-0 on Bayern Munich heading into Wednesday's second leg) in the semifinals. Those two legs will be played May 9/10 and May 16/17.
