Chelsea have a mountain to climb against Real Madrid in the second leg of the quarterfinal at Stamford Bridge to get into the semifinals of the Champions League.
CHE vs RMA Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 18 April 2023 / Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Time: 20:00 (BST) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
CHE vs RMA Match Preview
It has been a difficult start for Frank Lampard in his second spell managing Chelsea albeit on an interim basis with three straight losses suffered in all competitions. The instant change expected in the type of football the team have played so far after Graham Potter’s sacking early this month has not been forthcoming. The 2-1 loss to Brighton in Lampard’s homecoming did not made any favor to move from their 11th place standing on the Premier League table. Without a win in their last six games in all competition keeps them off the pace which includes a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals at the Bernabeu last week. A 17 points gap separates them from the top four in the league and failing to overturn the deficit at Stamford Bridge in the second leg will mean no European football for next season. Even if they make a miraculous comeback on Tuesday night with a confidence-lacking squad, the Blues will face Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the semifinals. Chelsea have progressed from five of their last seven Champions League ties in which they have lost the first leg away from home but have lost two of their last three ties with Los Blancos including a 3-1 loss at this venue in the quarterfinals as well last season.
Karim Benzema’s opener in the first 20 minutes of the match was not followed until the last 20 minutes of the game when substitute Marco Asensio came up with a cracking finish from the edge of the box to help Real Madrid secure a 2-0 lead. If the Spaniard's goal did not go in, Chelsea would have patted their back for their defensive reliance shown in the away trip with something left to play for at Stamford Bridge. The London-based club are not out of the contest but Carlo Ancelotti’s side will argue the opposition’s terrible home form in the last four games could not have been a barrier to their advancement to the semi-finals. The holders crave a record-extending 15th Champions League trophy having lost the La Liga title defence to arch-rivals FC Barcelona who despite their wobbly form of late retain an 11 points lead at the top. A sixth successive Champions League knockout win of which five have come against English sides will be one of several records set by Los Blancos in the competition. To make the matter more comfortable for them, Real Madrid have progressed from 18 of the 19 ties of the competition in which they have won the first leg by two or more goals.
Recent Form (all competitions)
CHE: LLLDL
RMA: WWLWW
Recent Form (Champions League)
CHE: LWLWW
RMA: WWWWL
CHE vs RMA Team News
Kai Havertz returned to training for Chelsea after missing the Premier League clash against Brighton through a minor knee injury. Carney Chukwuemeka has recovered from a knock as is Ruben Loftus-Cheek with a back problem while N’Golo Kante is involved with the group again having given a rest at the weekend. The Blues are without Kalidou Koulibaly whose hamstring injury will keep him on the sidelines for weeks. Left-back Ben Chilwell is suspended for the clash after his straight red card in the first leg.
Real Madrid continues to be without Ferland Mendy with a muscle injury but recalled Vinicius Junior and Toni Kroos after missing the win against Cadiz in the league due to muscular overloads. Eduardo Camavinga is likely to start over Nacho Fernandez at left-back despite the Spaniard scoring a goal at the weekend while Marco Asensio should continue on the left for being in scoring form of late. Hence, Federico Valverde will drop to the midfield with Aurelien Tchouameni resorting to the bench.
CHE vs RMA Predicted Lineups
CHL: Kepa Arrizabalaga; Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Silva, Marc Cucurella; N’Golo Kante, Enzo Fernandez, Mateo Kovacic; Felix Havertz, Mudryk
RMA: Thibaut Courtois; Daniel Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga; Federico Valverde, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric; Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior
CHE vs RMA Head to Head
CHL won - 4
Draw - 2
RMA won - 2
(In overall meetings)
CHE vs RMA Dream11 Team prediction
GK: Courtois (8)
DEF: James (8.5), Militao (8.5), Alaba (8)
MID: Asensio (8), Kovacic (7.5), Kroos (8.5), E Fernandez (8.5)
FW: Havertz (8.5), Benzema (9), Vinicius Jr (9)
Vice-captain: Vinicius Jr
Captain: Karim Benzema
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