Welcome to Europe's biggest madhouse

The Estadio Santiago Bernabeu is a madhouse in the Champions League this season. It has always been a special stadium in Europe, but this season the stadium far exceeds everything else.

It must be the cranes. Or the hole under the grass. But there's something about the Bernabeu this year that has everyone going crazy. Players and fans have managed to create an atmosphere that in the end overcomes all adversity.

Even on the worst days, Real Madrid get through. They win even when they lose.

The match against Chelsea was terrifying. Real Madrid were not bad, they were terrible. Thomas Tuchel gave Carlo Ancelotti a bath and Chelsea came back from 3-§ down in the first leg. But you have to kill Real Madrid well and truly.

If you leave them with a bit of life, these things happen, like a 36-year-old who only seems to use the outside of his foot delivering a life-saving pass to Rodrygo Goes, who only knows how to score goals in the Champions League. And then there are the 70,000 fans who think that with Lucas Vazquez, Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, and Marcelo they can eliminate Chelsea. And Karim Benzema, of course, there's always Benzema. And in the end, another semi-final, the 10th in 12 years.

The outside of Luka Modric's foot, straight into the Real Madrid museum

The outside of Luka Modric's foot allowed Real Madrid to reach extra time... and to go through to the Champions League semi-finals. With the team completely dead and out of the Champions League, he found a 25-metre pass with the outside of his boot that Rodrygo masterfully converted into a goal. He had to be the one to bring Madrid back to life, with a touch of class. His performance at the age of 36 is unique in football. Lukita did not deserve to be out of the Champions League after a comeback like the one Chelsea almost pulled off.

Benzema never fails

It wasn't his best game, he looked a little tired... But he is always there. Benzema appeared in extra time to send Real Madrid to the semi-finals with his head. There is no striker on the planet who heads like Karim. First he hit the crossbar with a shot and then he was on target from Vinicius Junior's cross. Once again Benzema in the photo of a magical night. Twelve goals in this Champions League and 38 in all this season.

Tuchel started preparing for the game in the press room

Yes, Thomas Tuchel said that the tie was dead and that his players had nothing to do in the second leg. If he said that to the media, what wouldn't he say to them in the dressing room? The reaction wasn't long in coming. Six goals against Southampton and a sublime game at the Bernabeu, where the approach was perfect. The German is one of the best coaches in the world, a coach who has only had problems at Paris Saint-Germain? There must be a reason for that.

Wouldn't Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao be a great pairing?

And David Alaba at left-back. Real Madrid have had Rudiger there to be signed for free and have discarded him. The centre-back finishes his contract this summer and he was crazy about playing for Real Madrid. There were talks but in the end he was ruled out by Los Blancos. If he has not yet signed for another club, they should rethink it, because he is a spectacular defender. Rudiger defends well, has good ball control, he's tough, he's quick and he can score. He has it all and with Militao he would form an intimidating centre-back pairing. And Alaba, on the left, where Real Madrid have problems.

Ferland Mendy's worst day

When Mendy is not there, he is not there. He looked physically depleted and lacked confidence. And on top of that, the Bernabeu's whistles didn't help him at all. The Frenchman had a nightmare night against Chelsea, being beaten time and time again. Ancelotti had Marcelo warming up in the 50th minute, although it's true that he didn't dare to bring him on until well into the second half.

How Militao's absence was noticed

It is always easy to remember those who are missing, but Militao's absence was felt, and very much so, in the centre of defence. Militao is now half of Real Madrid's defence, even more so than Alaba, who felt the Brazilian's absence. Real Madrid ended up playing in defence with Lucas, Carvajal, Alaba, and Marcelo. The final resistance was a bit of a miracle.

Why are you getting angry, Toni Kroos?

Kroos went off with the score at 2-0, 20 minutes from time, and complained to Ancelotti, in an unusual gesture from the German. It wasn't a nice sight. And it was ugly because the German was not having a good game and because Real Madrid were being outplayed, especially in the area where he was playing. Ancelotti didn't signal him with the change either, he simply wanted more legs. Carletto got it right, too, with his change and with Casemiro's substitution for Rodrygo.