When Real Madrid hosts Chelsea at the Santiago Bernabeu this week, they will be looking to finish the job and qualify for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
On Tuesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu, La Liga leaders Real Madrid will face reigning European champions Chelsea in the second leg of the quarter-finals for a place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Real Madrid has already qualified for the next round following a spectacular 3-1 victory in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, thanks to the brilliance of Karim Benzema. Carlo Ancelotti's side warmed up for the second leg with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Getafe in La Liga over the weekend.
Chelsea, on the other hand, were all over the place at home in the first leg last week, especially in the first half. Thomas Tuchel expected a big response from his players, and he got it on Saturday as the west Londoners crushed Southampton 6-0 in the Premier League. Chelsea's confidence would have been boosted by the win ahead of their journey to the Spanish capital.
While Tuchel's team is down a goal coming into the second leg, they should recall that they defeated Real Madrid in the semi-finals last season. The Blues will be seeking to make a comeback on Tuesday, while the Merengues will be looking to avoid complacency and finish the tie properly.
Real Madrid's Team News and Tactics
Ferland Mendy and Luka Jovic have returned to Real Madrid's squad for the match against Chelsea. Eden Hazard, the ex-Blues sensation, is still unavailable for selection. Carlo Ancelotti has also called up Castilla defender Rafa Marin, while Eder Militao is banned for the match and Jesus Vallejo is out with Covid-19.
For the weekend match against Getafe, Ancelotti made a few alterations to his starting eleven. When Chelsea comes to town, he will reintroduce his regulars to the starting XI. Thibaut Courtois is a foregone conclusion in goal, and he will be looking for a clean sheet against his old team.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Nacho, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius
Chelsea
Chelsea will be missing Romelu Lukaku, the club's record acquisition, who is sidelined with an injury. Furthermore, Callum Hudson-Odoi is still out with an injury, while Ross Barkley is missing due to sickness. The Blues have been without Ben Chilwell for a long time.
In the first half, Thomas Tuchel used a three-man defensive unit before moving to a typical four-man backline in the second half. So, on Tuesday night, it'll be fascinating to see which way he leans. Following the victory over Southampton, though, alterations may be modest.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Mendy; Christensen, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount; Havertz, Werner
Prediction