Real Madrid and Chelsea are set to meet in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League for the third straight season. Chelsea had secured the first win during the semi-final stage in 2020-21 before Real staged a comeback in last season’s quarter-finals.
Frank Lampard is the third manager to take charge of Chelsea this season, after the departure of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter. The Blues remain unbeaten in six UEFA Champions League matches against any of the reigning champions, which is a record in itself.
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They have lost only one of their seven matches against Real Madrid in European competitions, which means they go into this match with an advantage.
However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have performed exceptionally against English clubs in the Champions League, giving fans hope of an exciting encounter between the Spanish side and the Blues.
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Real Madrid-Chelsea
Over the weekend, Ancelloti rested some of his first-team players following their defeat to Villarreal. This time around, their star players including Luka Modric, Eder Militao and Federico Valverde are expected to be a part of the first XI against Chelsea.
For Chelsea, Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante did not play against Molineux but after a training session, they are expected to play at the Bernabeu, which could be a major turning point for manager Lampard.
Another key player who resumed practice is Thiago Silva but is unlikely to return against Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Benoit Badiashile, and Noni Madueke have all missed out on this Champions League season.
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Match preview
This will be the third straight season that the two European heavyweights will be facing each other in the Champions League knockout stage. Both Real Madrid and Chelsea have not been very proficient with goal scoring in their respective domestic leagues. For Frank Lampard, his interim managerial start at Stamford Bridge ended with an unimpressive 1-0 loss at Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaving Chelsea in a tight spot in the Premier League.
In fact, they could miss out on a top-half EPL finish for the first time since 1995/96. Thus, they will be looking to avenge last season’s quarter-final loss to Madrid.
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But Carlo Ancelotti’s Real have been one of the strongest contenders in the Champions League for a long time now, and despite their 3-2 home La Liga defeat to Villarreal recently, one can still expect the Spanish side to put up a solid performance at home.
Head-to-head record
In terms of head-to-head records, Chelsea have been successful four times while Real Madrid have only managed one victory in their seven matches. Two other matches ended in draws.
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Real Madrid wins: 1
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Chelsea wins: 4
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Draws: 2
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Real Madrid vs Chelsea prediction
Despite their superior head-to-head record, Chelsea could face a difficult time at the Santiago Bernabeu. Lampard making a comeback as manager has not proven too effective, while Real will fancy their chances considering they’re playing in front of a home crowd. Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior have been in sensational form, which means the Blues could be left with a mammoth task of securing two crucial points before going into the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Prediction: Real Madrid 3-0 Chelsea
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Date, kick-off time, venue
The UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Chelsea will be played at 8pm BST on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 and 12:30 am (IST) on April 13, 2023. The match will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.
