Real Madrid claimed their first win in their third match at the end of their US tour: A strong 30 minutes was enough for the Whites against an initially overwhelmed Chelsea
After defeats against Milan (0:1) and arch-rivals Barcelona (1:2), Real Madrid were determined to record their first win at the end of their trip to the USA, which was particularly evident in the first 30 minutes at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte (North Carolina). Still without new summer signing Mbappé and England’s European Championship player Bellingham, who did not take part in the trip overseas, Real played their opponents to the wall in the first 30 minutes.
There was chaos in Chelsea’s penalty area on several occasions – including in the 17th minute when Brahim Diaz pushed the ball just wide of the left-hand post. Just two minutes later, the Blues’ extremely shaky backline was completely exposed again, Real played cat and mouse with Chelsea in their penalty area before Brahim Diaz played Vazquez in, whose deflected left-footed shot landed in the bottom left-hand corner – new signing Jörgensen was beaten for the first time.
A short time later, the dominance was also reflected on the scoreboard: Vinicius Junior played a brilliant outside instep pass into the penalty area on the left, where Brahim Diaz rounded the hesitant Jörgensen and fired in from an acute angle (27′).
Nkunku misses the equalizer
Only then did the Premier League club wake up and Chelsea scored the equalizer before the break – because Real also defended sloppily. After a cross from world champion Fernandez, Courtois failed to get out of his goal at the second post and his opponent failed to get into the duel, allowing Madueke to nod home from close range to make it 1-2 (39′).
Chelsea again had the best chance in the second half – seconds after the break. This time, however, Lunin, who had replaced Courtois, was wide awake and denied Nkunku, who had been on target during the summer preparations, the equalizer (46′).
In the end, it was a 2-1 win for Champions League winners Real Madrid, who described the test as a successful dress rehearsal for the European Super Cup final against Europa League champions Atalanta Bergamo on August 14. Chelsea’s final acid test before the start of the Premier League awaits on Sunday (4pm) when Italian champions Inter Milan visit Stamford Bridge.
