Real Madrid vs Chelsea: Predicted line-ups and team news ahead of Champions League quarter-final
Real Madrid is heavy favorite to reach the Champions League semi-finals, as Chelsea travels to the Bernabeu with a lot to do.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team won the first leg of the last eight ties 3-1 at Stamford Bridge thanks to a hat-trick from Karim Benzema.
Despite both Ancelotti and Chelsea counterpart Thomas Tuchel making changes, both clubs won the league on the weekend.
If Chelsea is to maintain their Champions League defense, they must win by more than a single goal at the home of the Spanish league leaders, something only one team (Barcelona) has done in the 2021/22 season.
When and where will it take place?
The second leg of Real Madrid vs. Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. BST on Tuesday, April 12 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid.
How am I supposed to watch?
Real Madrid vs. Chelsea will be shown live on BT Sport 2 beginning at 7 p.m. BST. Subscribers may watch the game online or via the BT Sport app.
News from the team
Carlo Ancelotti rested some of his senior players in the weekend win over Getafe, but Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Dani Carvajal should all return to a starting lineup that is expected to be identical to the one that started the first leg at Stamford Bridge. Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will be obliged to make at least one change: Eder Militao’s booking last week means he will be suspended, with Nacho Fernandez the most likely benefactor of Militao’s absence in central defense.
Eden Hazard will be absent once more, according to Ancelotti, as he recovers from ankle surgery.
Timo Werner’s chances of starting for Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea have improved after he scored twice in a convincing win against Southampton. Romelu Lukaku was injured and missed the excursion to the south coast.
Cesar Azpilicueta tested positive for Covid-19 and will need a negative test to play in the game.
Lineups that are expected
Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Nacho, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius.
Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Havertz, Werner, Mount; Havertz, Werner, Mount.
Odds
Real Madrid triumphs 19/13.
13/5 draw
Chelsea triumphs 2/1.
Prediction
Chelsea will be hoping to get at the Real Madrid defense more easily than they did at Stamford Bridge, and should be able to give Carlo Ancelotti’s team a scare – but the home side is in such a strong position that a semi-final berth should be theirs. Real Madrid’s official website Chelsea 1-1 (4-2 agg.)
