Chelsea vs Real Madrid UCL preview
The return legs of Champions League matches will take place this midweek, with so much on the line for the eight quarter-finalists. Chelsea will host Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge after losing the first leg 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid put in a dominant display and showed the world exactly why they are the holders of the competition. Chelsea were nowhere near the level of Los Blancos and they will need to up their game significantly to stand a chance against the 14-time European Champions.
Frank Lampard’s interim stint at Chelsea hasn’t gone according to plan so far. In his 3 games, Lampard has lost all 3 whilst conceding 5 and scoring just 1 solitary goal.
Real Madrid will go into the clash with confidence on the highest levels. Even though they have all but surrendered their La Liga title to rivals Barcelona, Ancelotti’s men still have the Champions League and Copa del Rey to play for – both of where they look favourites.
For Chelsea and Lampard to progress to the next round of UCL, it’s as simple as scoring double the goals that Real Madrid manage to get in the fixture. While it certainly won’t come that easy, Stamford Bridge has witnessed many miraculous nights in the past and this could be one of them.
Chelsea vs Real Madrid – Team news
Chelsea and Frank Lampard will be without the services of Ben Chilwell after he picked a straight red card in the first leg. Armando Broja is out for the season.
Kalidou Koulibaly picked up a hamstring injury in the first leg against Real Madrid, and is out for a couple of weeks along with Carney Chukwuemeka.
Predicted Chelsea lineup: Kepa, Chalobah, W.Fofana, Thiago Silva, James, Enzo, Kante, Cucurella, Mudryk, Felix, Sterling
Viní rates Araújo above the English right-backs💪#Vinicius #Araujo #RealMadrid pic.twitter.com/TKxBHfcCca
— FootTheBall FC (@FootTheBallFC) April 14, 2023
Carlo Ancelotti has no fresh injury concerns, Ferland Mendy is still out with a muscle injury but his absence is hardly felt in this strong Los Blanocs squad.
Predicted Real Madrid lineup: Courtois, Carvajal, Rudiger, Militao, Alaba, Modric, Kroos, Valverde, Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius
Chelsea vs Real Madrid – Key players
Chelsea – Mykhaylo Mudryk
Chelsea need to score to even have a chance of progressing to the next stage of the competition. That is easier said than done considering their profligacy in front of the goal this season.
Mudryk has been their liveliest source of creating attacks especially since Lampard has taken charge. The Ukrainian also loves to play against the 14-time European Champions having given them nightmares when they last faced each other in the group stages.
Real Madrid – Vinicius Jr
The man that destroyed the Chelsea defence in the first leg. Expect the Brazilian to keep wreaking havoc in Chelsea’s penalty box in the return leg, too.
Reece James and Wesley Fofana tried their best to contain Vinicius, but with the form he is in, it will take more than a good day at the office for the Chelsea defenders.
Chelsea vs Real Madrid UCL prediction
Before 2021, these two teams had played each other just 3 times in all competitions. Since then, both Chelsea and Real Madrid have faced 5 times, with this match being their 6th. All those 5 matches have been in the UCL knockouts where Chelsea and Real Madrid have won 2 games a piece with one draw.
Lampards appointment has brought back some positivity in the fanbase but that has yet to be reflected in the results or even their on-field performances. Real Madrid weren’t ruthless in the first leg and the Blues were lucky enough to concede just two goals on the night.
Barring some miracle at Stamford Bridge, FootTheBall predicts, Chelsea 1-2 Real Madrid.