In the 21st minute, Benzema scored for the first time after a cross from Vinícius Júnior. A few minutes later, it was another header that gave Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy behind. Even before halftime Chelsea managed to do something back via Kai Havertz: 2-1.
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No sooner had both teams left the locker room than the ball was in again. Benzema took advantage of a blunder by Mendy who played the ball far too softly to Antonio Rüdiger, allowing the French goldcrest to intercept the ball. An opportunity that he obviously managed to cash in: 3-1.
Chelsea got a little more of a grip on the game as the game progressed. There were excellent opportunities for Romelu Lukaku and Mason Mount on the connecting goal. Hakim Ziyech, who had come into the field after the break, was also involved, but that led to nothing. Just before time, the former Ajax player still had a good chance of making it 3-2, but he only just saw the ball go over Thibaut Courtois’ goal.
For Benzema, who was substituted for Gareth Bale in the 86th minute, it was the second Champions League game in a row in which he scored three times. Last month he did that against Paris Saint-Germain (3-1). He has scored eleven goals in the Champions League this season, which means he was level with Ajax player Sébastien Haller. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) has scored one more goal.
View the program in the Champions League here