Result: Chelsea 2-0 Real Madrid (3-1 on agg.)
Date: 05 May 2021
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Chelsea setup an all-English UEFA Champions League final after beating Real Madrid 2-0 in the second-leg of their semi-final tie on Wednesday evening.
The Blues made only one change from the first-leg, a 1-1 draw in Madrid, as Kai Havertz started ahead of Christian Pulisic, who scored the away goal while Los Blancos made three changes from that tie, with Sergio Ramos and Ferland Mendy returning and Eden Hazard against his former side.
The hosts had a bright start, threatening to get an early goal and Timo Werner thought he had given them the lead in the 18th minute with a first-time side-footed finish in the centre of the box from Ben Chilwell's square pass from a counter-attack but the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside.
Karim Benzema came close to breaking the deadlock for Zinedine Zidane's charges in the 26th minute after he carved out space to have a shot from the edge of the box but his powerful strike was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy towards the far post.
Werner finally gave Chelsea the lead two minutes later with a simple header into an empty net after Havertz's chip over the onrushing shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois came off crossbar.
Benzema came very close again to equalising for Madrid ten minutes before the break with a towering header from Luka Modric's cross that was dipping towards the crossbar but Mendy did well to parry over the crossbar.
The Blues made a positive start in the second stanza as Mason Mount had a big chance to double their lead eight minutes before the break after breaking clear on goal at the near post but powered his strike over the bar before Courtois kept Madrid in the game five minutes with a superb save to deny Havert.
Zidane made a double change in the 63rd minute, a Federico Valverde came on for Mendy while Marco Asensio replaced Vinicius Junior upfront.
Los Blancos were desperate for the equaliser in the last quarter of an hour as Zidane threw caution to the wind with another tactical change, bringing on attacker Rodrygo in place of defensive midfielder Casemiro.
However, Madrid collapsed from a counter-attack as Mount killed off the game for Chelsea in the last five minutes with a tap-in from close range after a cut-back by Pulisic, who had raced clear on the right side of the box.
The Blues had a penalty appeal at the death turned down but they reached their first final since 2012 and will meet fellow English side City.
