<p>Carlo Ancelotti hailed Karim Benzema's "fantastic" hat-trick as he fired Real Madrid to a 3-1 win against Chelsea that put the Champions League holders on the brink of elimination after Wednesday's quarter-final first leg.</p>.<p>Benzema produced a masterclass at Stamford Bridge as the France striker netted twice in the first half with two perfectly-taken headers.</p>.<p>Kai Havertz reduced the deficit before the interval, but Benzema punished a woeful mistake from Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy in the second half to complete his treble.</p>.<p>It was the sublime Benzema's second successive Champions League hat-trick after he single-handedly inspired their epic comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16-second leg.</p>.<p>Ancelotti's side are in pole position to advance to the semi-finals as they return to Madrid for the second leg on April 12.</p>.<p>After losing to Chelsea in last season's Champions League semi-finals, Real will have the opportunity to exact revenge at the Bernabeu.</p>.<p>"We had a fantastic performance upfront from Benzema," Ancelotti said.</p>.<p>"He's getting better every day like wine. We played well. It was a good night.</p>.<p>"We have an advantage but we have a lot of respect for this team who were the winners of the last Champions League."</p>.<p>Real won the last of their 13 Champions League titles in 2018 and, while they may not be favourites in this year's tournament, their ruthless victory in west London was a significant statement of intent from the La Liga leaders.</p>.<p>With 11 goals this term, Benzema has scored more times than any other Frenchman in a single European Cup campaign, moving past Just Fontaine's 10-goal haul in 1958-59.</p>.<p>"They're magic nights. Today we came out to win, to show we're Real Madrid," Benzema said.</p>.<p>"We played well from the first minute to the last. They're very important goals."</p>.<p>Chelsea were a shadow of the supremely organised side that marched to their second Champions League crown last year and won six successive games in all competitions before the recent international break.</p>.<p>Blues boss Thomas Tuchel had dismissed Saturday's 4-1 home defeat against Brentford in the Premier League as nothing to worry about.</p>.<p>But in truth that shock loss had exposed some major flaws in Chelsea's defence that Real gleefully exploited.</p>.<p>"The first half was a repetition of the second half against Brentford. We were so far off our level in every aspect that this game demands," Tuchel said.</p>.<p>"The game was killed off with a big mistake in the second half. We gave it away in a moment that is simply impossible.</p>.<p>"The individual decisions were far from our level and our standards. It is on all of us. I'm included in this."</p>.<p>Benzema put Real ahead in the 21st minute at the end of a rapier thrust.</p>.<p>Vinicius Junior's cross was perfect for Benzema and he looped a superb header over Mendy into the top corner from 10 yards.</p>.<p>Benzema was proving Madrid's maestro once again and three minutes later he doubled Real's advantage.</p>.<p>Showing all his experience, the 34-year-old peeled away from Thiago Silva before planting a clinical header into the far corner from Luka Modric's pin-point cross.</p>.<p>Five minutes before half-time, Jorginho's deft cross caught Dani Carvajal ball-watching and Havertz glided behind him to bury a powerful header past Thibaut Courtois.</p>.<p>Tuchel sent on Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech at half-time, but Mendy's nightmare moment arrived just one minute after the break.</p>.<p>There should have been no danger when Mendy intercepted a long pass outside his area, but the Senegal keeper horribly miscued his ball towards Antonio Rudiger.</p>.<p>Benzema punished Rudiger's surprising reluctance to commit to the tackle, stealing possession to slot into the empty net as Tuchel looked on in disbelief.</p>.<p>Benzema is the first player to score hat-tricks in consecutive Champions League knockout ties since Cristiano Ronaldo for Real in 2017.</p>.<p>Chelsea tried to hit back and Courtois made a brilliant tip-over from Cesar Azpilicueta's strike.</p>.<p>But Romelu Lukaku's wretched headed miss summed up a night to forget for Chelsea.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>Carlo Ancelotti hailed Karim Benzema's "fantastic" hat-trick as he fired Real Madrid to a 3-1 win against Chelsea that put the Champions League holders on the brink of elimination after Wednesday's quarter-final first leg.</p>.<p>Benzema produced a masterclass at Stamford Bridge as the France striker netted twice in the first half with two perfectly-taken headers.</p>.<p>Kai Havertz reduced the deficit before the interval, but Benzema punished a woeful mistake from Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy in the second half to complete his treble.</p>.<p>It was the sublime Benzema's second successive Champions League hat-trick after he single-handedly inspired their epic comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16-second leg.</p>.<p>Ancelotti's side are in pole position to advance to the semi-finals as they return to Madrid for the second leg on April 12.</p>.<p>After losing to Chelsea in last season's Champions League semi-finals, Real will have the opportunity to exact revenge at the Bernabeu.</p>.<p>"We had a fantastic performance upfront from Benzema," Ancelotti said.</p>.<p>"He's getting better every day like wine. We played well. It was a good night.</p>.<p>"We have an advantage but we have a lot of respect for this team who were the winners of the last Champions League."</p>.<p>Real won the last of their 13 Champions League titles in 2018 and, while they may not be favourites in this year's tournament, their ruthless victory in west London was a significant statement of intent from the La Liga leaders.</p>.<p>With 11 goals this term, Benzema has scored more times than any other Frenchman in a single European Cup campaign, moving past Just Fontaine's 10-goal haul in 1958-59.</p>.<p>"They're magic nights. Today we came out to win, to show we're Real Madrid," Benzema said.</p>.<p>"We played well from the first minute to the last. They're very important goals."</p>.<p>Chelsea were a shadow of the supremely organised side that marched to their second Champions League crown last year and won six successive games in all competitions before the recent international break.</p>.<p>Blues boss Thomas Tuchel had dismissed Saturday's 4-1 home defeat against Brentford in the Premier League as nothing to worry about.</p>.<p>But in truth that shock loss had exposed some major flaws in Chelsea's defence that Real gleefully exploited.</p>.<p>"The first half was a repetition of the second half against Brentford. We were so far off our level in every aspect that this game demands," Tuchel said.</p>.<p>"The game was killed off with a big mistake in the second half. We gave it away in a moment that is simply impossible.</p>.<p>"The individual decisions were far from our level and our standards. It is on all of us. I'm included in this."</p>.<p>Benzema put Real ahead in the 21st minute at the end of a rapier thrust.</p>.<p>Vinicius Junior's cross was perfect for Benzema and he looped a superb header over Mendy into the top corner from 10 yards.</p>.<p>Benzema was proving Madrid's maestro once again and three minutes later he doubled Real's advantage.</p>.<p>Showing all his experience, the 34-year-old peeled away from Thiago Silva before planting a clinical header into the far corner from Luka Modric's pin-point cross.</p>.<p>Five minutes before half-time, Jorginho's deft cross caught Dani Carvajal ball-watching and Havertz glided behind him to bury a powerful header past Thibaut Courtois.</p>.<p>Tuchel sent on Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech at half-time, but Mendy's nightmare moment arrived just one minute after the break.</p>.<p>There should have been no danger when Mendy intercepted a long pass outside his area, but the Senegal keeper horribly miscued his ball towards Antonio Rudiger.</p>.<p>Benzema punished Rudiger's surprising reluctance to commit to the tackle, stealing possession to slot into the empty net as Tuchel looked on in disbelief.</p>.<p>Benzema is the first player to score hat-tricks in consecutive Champions League knockout ties since Cristiano Ronaldo for Real in 2017.</p>.<p>Chelsea tried to hit back and Courtois made a brilliant tip-over from Cesar Azpilicueta's strike.</p>.<p>But Romelu Lukaku's wretched headed miss summed up a night to forget for Chelsea.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>