Real and Chelsea review: Fate piles up

Match review

The draw has once again brought Real Madrid back to Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the 2022-2023 UEFA Champions League . In the quarter-finals last season, Real struggled to overcome Chelsea with a total score of 5-4, after which the Spanish representative advanced to the final and won the championship. Similarly, in the 2020-2021 Champions League, Chelsea defeated Real in the semi-finals and then also won the championship.

With 14 C1/Champions League titles, Real is the measure of success, the towering “mountain” that any team wants to overcome. It is worth mentioning that every time they compete in the Champions League, Real transforms into a powerful and experienced team. There, the “white vultures” are like themselves, just like the metaphor that they have the “winning gene” in this highest tournament of European football.

Before the match between Real and Chelsea , coach Ancelotti proactively gave up on La Liga by keeping many key players in the 2-3 loss to Villarreal. Real wants to focus all their efforts on the Champions League - a playground where they are considered the number 1 candidate for the championship. Meanwhile, after poor results in the domestic playground, Chelsea wants to regain honor through the C1 Cup.

In this season's Champions League, Real have maintained impressive form, winning their last three matches. They easily crushed Liverpool with a total score of 6-2 after two matches in the round of 16. Meanwhile, Chelsea are going through a period of crisis after a series of four consecutive matches without a win. Recently, The Blues suffered a humiliating 0-1 defeat to Wolves in the Premier League when led by interim coach Lampard.

There are many difficulties for Chelsea in the away match against Real. Chelsea's most realistic goal is to hold on for a draw to gain an advantage before the second leg at home. However, Real certainly want to strike quickly and destroy them like they did against Liverpool before. However, unlike Liverpool, Chelsea's defensive counter-attacking style has long made Real quite bored. The match could be decided by a star moment and it is likely that the player who shines will come from Real.

Force information

Real Madrid now only have one player injured, Ferland Mendy. Key players like Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, David Alaba, Eder Militao, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga are all ready to return.

On Chelsea's side, Mason Mount, Armando Broja, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva are absent for various reasons. Meanwhile, N'Golo Kante could return after not playing in the defeat to Wolves.

Notable Statistics

- Chelsea have not won in their last four matches in all competitions.

- Real won 6, lost 1, drew 1 in UEFA Champions League this season.

- Real won 3, lost 2, drew 1 in the last 6 matches against Chelsea.

- In the last 3 matches in all competitions, Chelsea's attack has not scored a goal.

- 2/3 of Real's recent matches and 3/4 of Chelsea's recent matches have had an even total number of goals.

- Real striker Benzema has scored a hat-trick in 2/3 of his last matches and scored 22 goals in 22 appearances this season.

Expected lineup

Real: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Modric, Camavinga, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.

Chelsea: Kepa; James, Fofana, Koulibaly, Chilwell; Kovacic, Fernandez, Kante; Sterling, Havertz, Felix.

HOAI PHUONG

Source