Rodrygo scored a second-half brace for Real Madrid in a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday to seal a spot in the Champions League semifinals for the defending champions by a final aggregate score of 4-0.
A cagey opening 45 minutes looked similar to Madrid’s 2-0 win in the first leg of the quarterfinal tie as Chelsea came out strong before the visitors settled into the game and were largely in control up to half-time.
Marc Cucurella should have scored just before the half, but a scampering Thibaut Courtois blocked his close-range strike after the Spaniard was left all alone at the far post and the teams went into the break tied 0-0.
Any hopes Chelsea might have had of an improbable comeback were dashed when Rodrygo scored shortly before the hour mark — the celebrations starting well and truly in Madrid a little over 20 minutes later when the Brazilian doubled the lead for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Rodrygo finished off a sweeping counter-attack against a helpless Chelsea, who have lost all four games since Frank Lampard returned as interim manager.
Meanwhile, AC Milan booked their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since the 2006-07 season as they drew 1-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, sealing a 2-1 aggregate victory over Victor Osimhen”s Napoli
It looked as though the energy had transformed when Olivier Giroud missed a penalty after Rafael Leao was brought down during a counter-attack, but the Portuguese winger provided for Giroud on another breakaway and he slotted in to make it 1-0.
Napoli looked like they had a route back into the game when Fikayo Tomori was penalised for handball, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia saw his spot kick saved. Victor Osimhen did score a consolation goal with seconds left, but it would not be enough.
Milan are back in the final four of Europe’s top club competition for the first time in 16 years, with a meeting against either city rivals Inter or Benfica awaiting
