Chelsea will now host Real Madrid in the return leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. The Blues currently trail the Whites by two goals and so will have to stage a dream comeback at Stamford Bridge if they are to face either Bayern Munich or Manchester City in the UCL semi-finals. Before we get into the preview, let us have a quick look at where to catch the live action from West London in the UK.
When is Chelsea vs Real Madrid?
Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Time: 8:00 PM UK time
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
How to watch Chelsea vs Real Madrid?
BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate will be telecasting the fixture on Television. Viewers will also be able to stream the game via the BT Sport App.
Preview: Chelsea vs Real Madrid
Chelsea have endured a nightmarish season up until this point and it has only gotten worse under interim manager Frank Lampard. Under the former midfielder, Chelsea have lost all of their three games under him, including the 2-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu last week. Thus, the odds are heavily stacked against a visibly clueless Blues outfit but the onus is on them to stage a dream comeback in front of their fans. It is worthwhile mentioning that the UEFA Champions League title is Chelsea's only hope of securing European football next season and though it looks unlikely at this stage, they still have a chance as long as they are in the competition.
The West London side while boasting of quality on paper, have not been able to string together consistent passages of play or in other words, play like a unit. Therefore, it is fair to assume that if they are to cause an upset tomorrow, they will have to play like one. Lampard has got a massive job on his shoulders and despite their current form, losing at home will dent their morale further. That being said, they will undoubtedly start as the underdogs in this clash. Stopping the prolific duo of Vinicius Jr., and Karim Benzema will be top of Lampard's priority list as he chases his maiden victory in his second Chelsea stint.
Real Madrid have looked like a different side post the international break and in Europe like always, Los Blancos mean serious business. The Kings of comebacks have taken a massive 3-0 lead and thus will only look to avoid any silly errors away from home. Carlo Ancelotti's side could play conservatively on Tuesday but will start as the favorites and are expected to dominate the proceedings.
The Whites will be eager to make it a double this season and so do not expect them to chop and change for this game. They are already in the Copa del Rey finals and will look to win the UCL for the second time running this season. Real Madrid will once again, bank on Vinicius Jr and Karim Benzema to don the scoring hat for them while Eder Militao will be trusted to maintain the shape at the back.
Prediction: Chelsea vs Real Madrid
It could be another tough night for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. With the way things have been going for them this season, it is illogical to believe that the Blues will help Lampard secure first points as a second-time Chelsea boss. Expect the visitors to walk away with another clean 2-0 victory.
2-0 to Real Madrid.
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