Chelsea earned an advantageous 1-1 draw in Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg against Real Madrid, securing a vital away goal that improves their chances of reaching the final for the first time since 2012.

Christian Pulisic gave the Blues the lead with a composed finish in the first half, but Karim Benzema replied at the half-hour mark with a wonderful hit from close range.

Thomas Tuchel’s side hosts the second leg at Stamford Bridge on May 5.

Chelsea took the lead in the 14th minute when Pulisic rounded Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and fired a shot through traffic. With the goal, the 22-year-old became the first American player to score in a Champions League semifinal.

The visitors had enough chances to double the advantage, with N’Golo Kante often leading the charge in midfield. But Madrid wrested control. Shortly after lashing a shot off the post, Benzema showed great control in the penalty area, heading the ball into his path to execute a perfect volley. Chelsea netminder Edouard Mendy could only watch in awe.

It was Benzema’s 71st goal in the Champions League, moving him into a tie for fourth place all time with Madrid legend Raul.

Madrid upped the tempo in the second half with a high press in Chelsea’s end. Noticing the momentum swing, Tuchel opted for a rare triple change to regain a foothold, and Hakim Ziyech’s impact was immediate. Los Blancos, however, seemed all too happy to sit back and absorb the pressure.

Eden Hazard had a brief cameo against former side Chelsea as he returned from his latest muscle injury. But his appearance lacked the oomph that much of the pregame coverage had promised. The Belgian made just 10 passes and attempted one dribble in 24 minutes of play.

Warning: Videos contain coarse language

Hundreds of Arsenal supporters chanted Friday for owner Stan Kroenke to sell the club and board members to be fired for agreeing to join the breakaway European Super League.

Fans lit flares, held up signs, and joined in chorus outside Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium hours before kickoff against Everton to protest Kroenke, who agreed earlier this week to join the controversial Super League. The closed-circuit competition was widely panned as a money-grab by the sport’s richest teams.

Arsenal officially withdrew from the project Tuesday after significant backlash from supporters, former players, pundits, and politicians. The club – one of six Premier League teams to agree to the proposal – said it “made a mistake” and apologized.

But a fan base that previously called for Kroenke to sell his stake in the club again demanded his removal in vociferous demonstrations:

“Get out of our club,” one group of fans chanted.

“We want our Arsenal back,” another contingent sang.

Many fans carried signs – most containing strong language against the American businessman.

“Kroenke KE-19, The American Virus,” read one.

“Merit, not money: Say no to the Super League,” read another.

Kroenke’s son, Josh, reiterated during a fan forum Thursday that the club “got it wrong.” The 40-year-old, who also serves on Arsenal’s board of directors, told supporters his father’s conglomerate has no intention of selling the club.

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment took over the Gunners in 2011.

Barcelona plan to offer Lionel Messi a new two-year contract with an option for third, sources told ESPN’s Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.

The La Liga giants are reportedly unable to pay Messi his current annual salary – believed to be around €75 million after taxes – in a new deal. With Barcelona facing debts totaling more than €1 billion, club president Joan Laporta is reportedly hoping to sweeten the deal by signing a star player like Erling Haaland or Neymar this summer.

Messi would rather renew his contract on a yearly basis, according to Marsden and Llorens.

Laporta said this week he’s “convinced” Messi wants to remain at the club, vowing to do everything in his power to keep the 33-year-old from leaving at the end of his contract in June.

Messi has said he’ll consider his future after the conclusion of the 2020-21 season. Barcelona can win the La Liga title if they win their final seven matches of the season.

Barca manager Ronald Koeman has been optimistic about Messi staying put.

“Leo has seen for quite some time that the team is improving thanks to all the changes we’ve made,” Koeman said after Barcelona bowed out of the Champions League in March.

“Particularly, we have young players of great quality. We’ve got a great future ahead. Leo can’t have any doubts about what the future holds for this team.”

Barcelona have since won the Copa del Rey title – the club’s first silverware since 2019.

Messi attempted to engineer his exit last summer, citing the lack of a project. But several academy graduates and youngsters have earned opportunities under Koeman, including Pedri and Oscar Mingueza, who scored in El Clasico in April.

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan criticized UEFA on Thursday for adding more games to the Champions League calendar without “thinking about” players.

Gundogan said the new format – set to take effect in 2024 and include a minimum of 10 games per team in the group stage – isn’t much better than the controversial European Super League.

Gundogan’s City withdrew from the Super League project – a 20-team competition that promised to give 15 clubs a permanent spot – after intense backlash from fans, pundits, and players Tuesday. Some of Gundogan’s teammates, including Raheem Sterling, celebrated the club’s decision.

“With all the Super League stuff going on … can we please speak about the new Champions League format?” Gundogan wrote on Twitter. “More and more and more games. Is no one thinking about us players? The new UCL format is just the lesser of the two evils in comparison to the Super League …

“The UCL format right now works great and that is why it’s the most popular club competition in the world – for us players and for the fans.”

Earlier this week, City manager Pep Guardiola blasted UEFA for looking after its own interests and denying teams recovery time between seasons.

“Do they listen when the managers and the footballers say when they want to finish the season and have two weeks, three weeks off?” he said. “And after, start again, start again. There are many injuries. What is the problem with injuries? Absolutely nothing. Another player, don’t play this one, play the other one. The show must go on.”

City, who are still active in three competitions, will play a minimum of 60 games this season.