Brentford came from behind to beat Chelsea 4-1 in the second half, with Christian Eriksen among the scorers and Vitaly Janelt scoring two goals.
In the opening moments, the hosts seemed to be suffering from an international hangover, throwing the ball away on many occasions and encouraging pressure from the persistent Bees.
In the first quarter of an hour, Ivan Toney came close three times, the first time spinning a chip over the bar with the goal protruding after Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy had offered him the ball straight. After pushing the striker’s low weak effort around the post, the goalkeeper was pressured to head another chance over two minutes later.
Chelsea gradually rediscovered their discipline, but they found it difficult to generate anything significant in the second half. Mason Mount sent a shot wide after 21 minutes had gone.
Chelsea’s biggest opportunity of the half came from Hakim Ziyech, whose powerful strike was acrobatically stopped by the jumping David Raya after Antonio Rudiger had blasted his typical pot-shot past the post.
In the second half, the game sprang into life, with four goals struck in the span of 15 minutes. Rudiger eventually broke the tie by nailing one of those insane long-range attempts, smashing the ball in off the post from 35 yards out.
But the Bees were level just a minute later thanks to a fine strike from their own German, with Janelt arriving on the edge of the box to ping a firm strike past the goalkeeper.
Brentford took the lead couple of minutes later, with Bryan Mbeumo leading a break and laying the ball on a plate for Eriksen, who joyously raised the ball over the vulnerable Mendy.
If Thomas Frank’s team wasn’t already in dreamland in west London, another magnificent finish from Janelt catapulted them there as he ghosted a helpless Mendy to give Brentford an unbelievable two-goal lead.
Thomas Tuchel while addressing the press in a post-match inteview about the outcome of the match, he said “We stopped defending and gave three goals away in 10 minutes. It was very untypical from us and I don’t know why. It’s on us, it is our fault. We selected this team because we thought it was the best team for Brentford. We didn’t have half and eye or 1% of an eye on Real Madrid.”
