Real Madrid and Chelsea are all ready to meet at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on Tuesday night for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash. With the farcical fallout of the doomed European Super League already fresh on their minds. Read on to know Real Madrid vs Chelsea possible lineup and prediction.
While Chelsea advanced to Champions League semi-finals with a 2-1 over Porto in two legs of quarter-finals, Los Blancos reached the final four after a 3-1 aggregate win over Liverpool.
Chelsea improved their top-four chances with a 1-0 victory over West Ham United, while the hosts are coming off a poor goalless draw with Real Betis in La Liga.
Team news
Real Madrid lineup: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Militao, Nacho; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric; Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius
Since February, Dani Carvajal made his first appearance in a match against Real Betis on Saturday where the team scored a 0-0 draw, and he is expected to play at right-back.
Toni Kroos is certain to play, but Ferland Mendy will skip the first leg, with Nacho and Marcelo vying for the spot, according to Zinedine Zidane.
In midweek, Sergio Ramos is hoping to return to play, but it’s possible he won’t be ready until the second leg.
Due to injury and COVID-19, Lucas Vazquez and Federico Valverde will miss Chelsea’s welcome.
Eden Hazard will be hoping to play against his old club after coming on as a substitute on Saturday.
It’s matchday in Madrid! ⚪️🔵
COME ON CHELSEA! #RMACHE pic.twitter.com/81SUgqhsQv
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 27, 2021
Chelsea lineup: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell; Mount, Werner; Havertz
As Chelsea visits Madrid the Blues has only one injury risk and that is Mateo Kovacic, who is recovering from a thigh problem.
The Blues are supposed to start Reece James or Callum Hudson-Odoi at right wing-back.
Real Madrid vs Chelsea Prediction
As Chelsea aim to book a place in the Champions League final, the Blues have just conceded one goal in their last seven games away from Stamford Bridge. The team hasn’t conceded in three games since a 1-0 victory over West Ham on Saturday, a streak they’ll look to extend at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano this week.
On Saturday Real Madrid were ended a five-game winning streak at home scoring a 0-0 draw by Real Betis. Real Madrid hasn’t lost a competitive match since February 17, but they’ve just won one of their last four games.
This may be a cagey affair in Spain, with no side willing to give too much away. A draw is a possibility.
In the first leg for Real Madrid, another goalless draw is a distinct possibility, as two of Europe’s most impenetrable defenses aim to retain their impenetrable qualities and prevent falling behind at halftime in the semi-final.
Since taking over, Tuchel’s attacking unit has not gelled reliably, as shown by a string of 1-0 wins, but we can see the Blues being on the wrong end of the scoreline in the first leg, as Zidane’s men look to prove their mettle with a fit-again Hazard in tow.
Our Prediction: Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea
