Real Madrid is'motivated by vengeance' ahead of their Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea, with'several in the dressing room believing they are an easier draw than Liverpool or Manchester City.'
Last season, the two clubs clashed in the competition's semi-finals, with Chelsea coming out on top 3-1 on aggregate.
However, there is a feeling that things will be different this time at the Bernabeu, with the LaLiga leaders progressing to the next round.
According to the Athletic, the Real Madrid dressing room is in such a good mood that being pitted against one of the current Premier League's top two teams would have been significantly more difficult than facing Chelsea.
The players concede that they were physically and tactically inferior in last season's semi-final, but things will be different this time around with revenge on their minds.
Real Madrid won 2-1 at Celta Vigo on Saturday thanks to two Karim Benzema penalties, putting them 12 points ahead of second-placed Barcelona with eight rounds remaining.
Because of their strong domestic situation, Carlo Ancelotti's club can focus on winning Europe's top tournament for the 14th time and for the first time since 2018.
Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea in the first leg last season, before losing 2-0 in the return leg at Stamford Bridge, with Timo Werner and Mason Mount scoring.
Another factor working in their favor is the fact that Chelsea is coming off a 4-1 home defeat to Brentford on Saturday.
The club's ownership situation is uncertain, with four billionaire groups vying for control from Roman Abramovich, which doesn't help Chelsea ahead of one of their most important matches of the season.
'Now it's a bit harder because we have to swallow a significant loss,' Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel remarked over the weekend.
'I didn't expect that, and neither did the players, so I'm involved, and I'll figure out how to digest it and prepare for Real.'
'We deal with our issues, and I don't read too much into the outcomes of other games since they have nothing to do with Wednesday's game.'
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