Chelsea are on the road to face defending champions Real Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-finals tie.
Real Madrid won their last Champions League tie, beating Liverpool 6-2 on aggregate in the round of 16. After earning a 5-2 victory in the first leg, they ran out 1-0 victors in the return match at home. Karim Benzema netted in the second-leg win.
Chelsea won their last Champions League tie, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on aggregate in the round of 16. They overcame a one-goal first-leg deficit with a 2-0 victory in the return match at home. Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz were on the scoresheet in the second-leg win. Since then, they are winless in their last four games in all competitions (W0 D2 L2).
The previous fixture between the sides saw Chelsea triumph 3-2 in extra time in a Champions League quarter-finals match at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu last season. Mason Mount scored first for the Blues in the 15th minute. Antonio Rüdiger and Timo Werner also found the net. Rodrygo and Karim Benzema found the net for los Blancos.
Real Madrid have been led by Vinícius Júnior in Champions League play. He leads the club with six goals, which is tied for the fourth highest in the competition in 2022/2023. Chelsea’s most productive player in attack has been Sterling, who has netted on three occasions in this season’s Champions League.
The hosts have scored in each of their eight Champions League contests this season.
In four Champions League contests on home soil this season, Real Madrid have secured all 12 points on offer with 10 goals scored and 2 conceded.
In matches on the road in the competition this season, Chelsea have two wins and two losses.
In their last six matches in all competitions, Real Madrid have won four and lost two. They scored 17 and conceded six in that stretch, scoring first in five of the six contests. A majority of their goals (nine) came in the first half, while their opponents netted three times in the first 45 minutes. Chelsea have won two, drawn two and lost two in their last six.
They scored seven and conceded six over that period, netting first in four of the six. Most of their goals (four) came in the first half, while their opponents netted three times before the break.
Kepa would be the man between the goalposts for Chelsea despite Eduoard Mendy’s return to the squad following his injury layoff.
In the backline, Frank Lampard is expected to retain his four man lineup with Kalidou Koulibaly joining Wesley Fofana as the two centre-backs while Reece James has Ben Chilwell as his full-back partner.
The midfield could have club record signing Enzo Fernandez provided company by Mateo Kovacic and the returning Mason Mount who sat out the defeat to Wolves last time out.
Kai Havertz could be seen leading the line once again despite his unimpressive run of form of late with Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling on the flanks.
