The reigning champions were thrashed 3-1 in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, with one legendary Frenchman doing the damage on the night, and either Manchester City or Atletico Madrid await them in the semi-finals.
Team News
Real Madrid
- Real Madrid defender Despite going off at Stamford Bridge, Eder Militao was fine to play the full 90 minutes at the weekend, However, the Brazilian will be on the naughty step this week as he serves a ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.
- Eden Hazard, a former Chelsea player, is still in the medical room with Isco, but backup striker Luka Jovic has recovered from an ankle injury, while centre-back Jesus Vallejo is out with COVID-19.
- Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are both refreshed after watching the win against Getafe from the substitutes’ bench. Ferland Mendy was rested at the weekend and should be fine to take Marcelo’s place at left-back, while Nacho Fernandez should fill in for the suspended Militao.
Chelsea
- Chelsea has a similar number of fitness issues heading into the second leg. Long-term absentee Ben Chilwell is certain to miss the match, as well as Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has had a setback in his recovery from an Achilles problem.
- Romelu Lukaku missed the win against Southampton due to Achilles soreness and will miss the trip to Bernabeu, while Cesar Azpilicueta has tested negative for COVID-19 and is expected to travel. Ross Barkley, on the other hand, is now ill and unavailable.
- At St Mary’s, Tuchel was able to get Havertz, Mount, and Thiago Silva off early, but Werner’s brace may not be enough to keep him ahead of Hakim Ziyech or Christian Pulisic.
Prediction Analysis
Chelsea have previously proved that they can breach this Real Madrid backline. Therefore, they will fancy their chances of doing so on more than one occasion with an attack-minded mentality and no Militao in the hosts’ lineup after regaining their golden touch against a mediocre Southampton.
Tuchel’s team must simply go for goals in the Spanish capital.But that approach will always leave them vulnerable to Vinicius Junior’s dynamism and Benzema’s brilliance on the break, and Real can nick a couple of goals of their own to put an end to Chelsea’s hopes of winning back-to-back European titles.
Our prediction is Real Madrid 2-2 Chelsea (Real Madrid win 5-3 on aggregate)
Possible Lineup
Real Madrid: Carvajal, Nacho, Alaba, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius Jr. Courtois;
Chelsea:Mendy, Christensen, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kovacic, Kante, Alonso; Ziyech, Mount; Havertz.