Chelsea will head into next Wednesday evening's UEFA Champions League semi-final second-leg against Real Madrid with an away-goal to their name after playing out a 1-1 draw at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium last night.
In a rain-soaked contest in Spain, Chelsea ensured that they will require nothing more than just a clean sheet in next week's return-leg at Stamford Bridge to secure their place in the final for the first time in nine years.
Christian Pulisic netted the opening goal of the game, remaining calm and composed in front of goal after getting the better of former Blues goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, before Karim Benzema drew the home side level.
The Frenchman, who is Madrid's leading marksman with 27 goals to his name so far this term, produced a sublime acrobatic effort to get the better of Edouard Mendy and ensure that Zinedine Zidane's side did not lose the first-leg.
Although a draw in Spain gave Chelsea more of an advantage than Madrid ahead of the two sides going toe-to-toe once again week, Madrid, especially Benzema, were determined to ensure that they would travel to England next week ahead in the tie.
That was because as soon as the former Lyon striker had brought the home side level he was back inside his own half ready for the game to restart.
Considering that he had scored the goal and was the first outfield player to be back in his own half of the pitch spoke volumes about how determined he was to build on that equaliser and help Madrid in their quest to try and win the first-leg.
Benzema sprinted back over half way, before being joined by the remainder of his teammates, who had jogged up the pitch to take their positions for the set-piece that led to the goal.
Although Madrid's failure to find a second goal means that Chelsea have a slender advantage to take into the second-leg, all courtesy of their away-goal, head coach Thomas Tuchel is not convinced that the Blues have the edge in the tie.
"I don’t know, actually," Tuchel admitted. "I have a feeling that we should have won the first half and we deserved to win the first half, maybe we could have decided this match very, very early in the first half an hour when we were playing so, so strong.
"Second half was a bit of a tactical match and you could feel that we only had two days in between two away games. Both games were very demanding physically and mentally so you could feel the decision making, some ball losses, acceleration, that we suffered from it today.
"One more day [recovery] would have been great for us but it was not like this so now is the challenge to, first of all enjoy a free day for the group and then stay focused on the next challenge, go step by step.
"Next week we have to face another challenge against Real Madrid, it will be another tough one because it is the Champions League semi-final, nothing is sure.
"It is half time and we need to fight for every centimetre and advantage that we want to have, we need to fight and to deserve it.
