Last season, Real Madrid were comprehensively beaten by a youthful Chelsea side in the Champions League semi-finals. The manner of defeat prompted suggestions that they have an ageing squad, which needs an overhaul to be able to compete with the Europe’s elite.
Indeed with the likes of Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema all above 30 and Vinicius Jr. not producing the output he evidently can, those suggestions made sense. But fast forward one season, and Los Blancos have wrapped up the La Liga title, and made the finals of the Champions League. And their journey hasn’t been anything short of a fairytale.
Group stage: Real Madrid lose to FC Sheriff
Real Madrid would have expected to get out of their group with minimum fuss. But after losing to Champions League debutants FC Sheriff at home, the old guard’s decline looked to continue. However, they recovered to win their group comfortably. Their reward for that though was a stern test against PSG. The Parisiens, equipped with Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi, were seen as favourites.
Benzema’s successive hattricks down PSG and Chelsea
Madrid looked down and out when trailing 2-0 on aggregate with half an hour to go. But up stepped Benzema with a quickfire hattrick to stun PSG and seal their progress to the quarter-finals.
Buoyed by his hattrick against PSG, Benzema bagged another at Stamford Bridge to give his side a huge advantage after the first leg. But the European Champions produced a memorable performance at the Bernabeu, and had overturned a 3-1 first leg deficit. That was when Modric produced an unbelievable outside-of-the-boot pass to tee up Rodrygo, whose volleyed finish forced extra time.
Rodrygo magic right at the death evicts City
Benzema scored early in the extra time to put his side ahead on aggregate. So Real Madrid sailed through to the semi-finals, despite losing the match, setting up a mouth-watering clash with Manchester City. The first leg was an absolute goal-fest. 4-3 it finished, Benzema again scoring two important goals. The second leg was more tight and tense, and looked settled when Riyad Mahrez powered in from the left wing.
But this Real Madrid side just never know when they are beaten. They waited for stoppage time to respond, and what a response it was. The in-form Rodrygo scored twice in 91 seconds in stoppage time to force extra time. In the previous seasons, extra time wouldn’t have been required thanks to the away goals rule. In extra time, you guessed it, Benzema once again delivered the killer blow.
And so, Real Madrid booked their place in the final, and boy did they do it the hard way. They knocked out PSG, Chelsea and Man City, who along with themselves, comprised of last season’s semi-finals. It won’t get any easier in the final as well, with Liverpool and Mo Salah waiting to gain revenge on 2018’s final.