Chelsea facing defensive crisis after disastrous injury AND red card in space of four minutes

KALIDOU KOULIBALY was forced off with injury against Real Madrid.

The centre-back appeared to pull his hamstring when competing with Rodrygo to win a loose ball in the second half.

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Kalidou Koulibaly appeared to injure his hamstring when racing Rodrygo to the ball[/caption]

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Ben Chilwell of Chelsea walks off after being shown a red card[/caption]

He attempted to play on but was taken off for Marc Cucurella.

But things went from bad to worse for Chelsea as Ben Chiwell was sent off moments later.

The England defender was caught out by a ball over the top and pulled back Rodrygo when he was through on goal, leaving the referee no choice but to brandish a red card.

That forced Frank Lampard into another change with Trevoh Chalobah replacing Raheem Sterling.

Cucurella switched to left wing-back to deal with the threat of Rodrygo, with Blues short of numbers in attack.

Koulibaly, 31, has had a difficult campaign since joining Chelsea in the summer.

He has helped Chelsea keep just ten clean sheets in his 35 appearances for the club, which led the club to bring in Benout Badiashile in January.

There are also doubts he was likely to be part of Lampard’s long-term plans due to his preference for playing four at the back.

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Chelsea attempted to stay in the tie despite teh mini defensive crisis, but Real made it 2-0 through Marco Asensio in the latter part of the second half.