A Marcelo double and a stunning strike from Mariano Diaz helped Real Madrid to a 3-2 victory over Chelsea in the International Champions Cup as Eden Hazard's late brace proved in vain. European Champions Madrid were beaten 3-1 by Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday, but it appeared as though the Liga giants were in store for a comfortable win in front of a bumper crowd of 105,826 at the Michigan Stadium.
Conte only made two changes to the side that beat Liverpool in midweek, with Oscar coming in for the suspended Cesc Fabregas and Pedro replacing Victor Moses, but the Blues were swept aside by the European champions in the first half.
After John Terry had failed to make the most of an early opportunity for Chelsea, it was virtually all Madrid for the remainder of the opening period.
Full-back Marcelo put Zinedine Zidane's men in command with an unlikely brace, first seeing a long-range effort deflect in before adding a second with a cool finish.
The best was to come from Mariano, though, who let fly with a fierce 25-yard strike that left Asmir Begovic helpless, Madrid three goals to the good after 37 minutes.
However, Chelsea threatened a late comeback when impressive substitute Hazard, much criticised for falling well below his lofty standards last term, scored twice in the last 10 minutes.
It proved too little too late and new Chelsea coach Antonio Conte, a former team-mate of Zidane at Juventus, has just over a fortnight until their Premier League opener against West Ham and he will be keen to see a swift defensive improvement.
Zidane himself will want to see Madrid shore up at the back, but they showed plenty of positive signs going forward as they build towards the new Liga season.
Madrid went ahead in the 19th minute when Marcelo tried his luck with his weaker right foot and a deflection off Oscar left Begovic wrong footed.
The Brazil full-back had a look of disbelief when he scored again seven minutes later, coolly slotting past Begovic after a clever give and go with Marco Asensio.
A second half brace from Hazard will put a big smile on Antonio Conte's face, following a pretty woeful first 45 minutes. Chelsea looked an entirely different proposition after substitutions were made, with Cuadrado and Batshuayi looking like excellent summer signings.
After a first half performance in which The Blues were starved of possession and wowed by some outstanding skill from Marcelo and Mariano Diaz, they came into the second half looking far more dangerous in attack.
Cahill and Terry will not be happy with their opening displays, allowing Madrid far too much time on the ball. But their dominant performance after half time will certainly restore some confidence in the Chelsea manager.
Full time: Real Madrid 3-2 Chelsea
And there’s the whistle. The scoreline will make it look closer than it was, considering Real Madrid more or less sent on their youth team when the score was 3-nil. But it’s nice consolation nonetheless for Chelsea, who today played before a bigger crowd than ever before in their 102-year history.
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