Berlin, 13 April 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Title holders Real Madrid defeated 10-man Chelsea 2-0 to draw first blood in their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday, while AC Milan won a first all-Italian date with 10-man Napoli 1-0.

Karim Benzema was on target for Real in the 21st minute at the Bernabeu and substitute Marco Asensio got the second in the 74th, after Chelsea's Ben Chilwell was sent off on the hour for a last-man foul on Rodri.

The result leaves Real well-placed for the second leg on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge against the Blues and their interim coach Frank Lampard.

"Any player who wears this shirt for Madrid knows how special the Champions League is. If you play for Madrid you have to be driven by the hunger to play in and win the Champions League," Vinicius Junior said.

Milan beat Napoli again, 10 days after a stunning 4-0 Serie A triumph against the runaway leaders, from Ismael Bennacer's 40th minute strike at the San Siro where Napoli's Andre-Franck Zambo-Anguissa got his marching orders.

The seven-time champions need to complete the job in Naples to stay on course to the June 10 final in the Istanbul stadium where they lost the memorable 2005 decider on penalties against Liverpool after leading 3-0 at half-time.

Also keen for an Istanbul return will be Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, who was in charge at Milan in 2005, and celebrates his 64th birthday on the day of the this year's final.

The other first leg games were on Tuesday, with Manchester City downing Bayern Munich 3-0 en route to a possible meeting with Real or Chelsea, and Inter Milan winning 2-0 at Benfica and on course to a Serie A duel with crosstoen rivals Milan or Napoli.

Real and Chelsea met at the same stage last year, with Real surviving a spirited Blues comeback in extra time on their way to a record extending 14th title.

Chelsea had the first chance from Joao Felix two minutes into the game but Real took the lead when Kepa Arrizabalaga got his hands on Vinicius Junior's flick off Dani Carvajal chipped pass, but right into the path of Benzema for an easy tap-in.

Chelsea almost levelled a minute later but Raheem Sterling was denied by Thibaut Courtois.

Real always looked more dangerous, with Vincius Junior's chip past Kepa cleared by Thiago Silva, who was back from a lengthy injury lay-off, and Luka Modric curling inches over the bar shortly after the restart.

Chilwell's dismissal on the hour for the foul against the charging Rodri just outside the penalty area made life even more difficult for the Blues, and Asensio's low shot through a crowded penalty area into the bottom left corner in the 74th sealed their fate.

"We played very well, pressing all the time just like we did at this stage last season. This was one of our best performances of the season. But this is only half-time. There’s a lot left in this tie. We just need to keep calm heads," Vinicius Junior said.

In Milan, Napoli were without injured striker Victor Osimhen but all over the hosts early on as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's shot was cleared on the goal-line by defender Davide Calabria.

But Milan slowly settled in, and, after Rafael Leao had aimed just wide, took the lead in the 40th when Bennacer's drive into the near left corner completed an attack set up by Brahim Diaz's run towards the Napoli penalty area.

Milan's Simon Kjaer's powerful header hit the underside of the bar and bounced back into play, and Eljiz Elmar's looping header was tipped onto the crossbar by Milan keeper Maik Maignon shortly after the restart.

Zambo-Anguissa had to go for a second bookable offence in the 74th but Napoli almost stole a late equalizer from captain Giovanni di Lorenzo who was denied by Maignon.

"It's so important to have a positive result. Napoli are a really good team; not conceding a goal is great," Diaz said, while di Lorenzo insisted that "we are confident for the return leg."

Photo: EPA