Real Madrid took control of their Champions League quarter-final with Chelsea by winning the first leg 2-0 as Ben Chilwell was sent off.
Karim Benzema's first-half goal had put Real fully in control against a timid Chelsea side led by Frank Lampard and the task become even greater when Chilwell saw red for cynically pulling Rodrygo back just outside the area when through on goal.
The match became a damage limitation exercise for Lampard's side in order to stay in the tie for the return leg in London but Marco Asensio doubled the Champions League holders' lead with a low strike that Kepa Arrizabalaga could not keep out.
It would have been a disappointing evening for owner Todd Boehly, who was in Madrid watching the game and confidently predicted a 3-0 win for his side when interviewed by Sky Sports News reporter Gary Cotterill ahead of the match.
Chelsea, who were denied a late Mason Mount goal by a brilliant block by former team-mate Antonio Rudiger, remain with an outside hope for next Tuesday's second leg but will need to score at least twice to keep their season alive - something they have only done four times in their last 22 fixtures.
Lampard said: "Special things can happen at Stamford Bridge - we have to believe. I've been involved in nights like that."
The winners will play Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the last four.
The sides met at the same stage of last season's competition, with Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid winning 5-4 on aggregate after a spellbinding second leg.
This clash never sparked into the same levels of excitement with Chelsea clearly lacking confidence in forward areas having failed to score in their previous three games.
Joao Felix could have changed the momentum of this tie after just two minutes but he failed to find a way past Thibaut Courtois when through on goal. Real eventually settled into their stride with Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior winning their battles down the wings.
Vinicius made the telling contribution for the opening goal, sneaking behind Wesley Fofana before testing Kepa with a low finish. The Chelsea goalkeeper could only parry the chance away to Benzema, who has now scored 13 goals in his last nine Champions League knockout phase matches.
That was one of eight shots on target Madrid peppered Chelsea's goal with in the first 45 minutes as Lampard's side did well to stay in the game with Kepa showing sharp reflexes to deny Federico Valverde just before the break.