Real Madrid will be making the trip to London to square off against Chelsea in the return leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final. The aggregate score is tied at 1-1, however, the Blues currently enjoy an away goal advantage.
Real Madrid are gunning for their 14th honour this season and a victory at Stamford Bridge is essential for it. The Whites have been hard-done-by injuries on almost all crucial junctures in the season and it does not seem to end just yet.
Raphael Varane is the latest addition to the casualty list joining Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vasquez at the sickbay. Real Madrid rested a couple of vital players on the weekend against Osasuna in the Primera Division. Here’s how Real Madrid could take to the field against the Premier League side –
Real Madrid Predicted Line-Up Against Chelsea
Defense
Thibaut Courtois put up a gigantic display against his former side and kept Real Madrid in the game with two crucial saves. The Belgian will be expecting a sweet result for Los Blancos on his return to the Stamford Bridge Stadium. Alvaro Odriozola will deputize for the injured Dani Carvajal at the right-back position.
Even though Sergio Ramos is not fully recovered for this clash, it is expected that the Madrid captain will risk it all for this contest. The absence of Varane means that Eder Militao would be replacing the French defender in the starting line-up. Zidane might opt for Nacho Fernandez in one of the centre-back positions if Ramos withdraws. Ferland Mendy is expected to get the nod for the left-back slot ahead of Marcelo.
Midfield
Real Madrid’s most trusted and decorated midfield trio of Kroos, Modric, and Casemiro is expected to take centre stage in London. The trio’s game was a few notches below their usual best last time around and Zidane wanted to fix that problem with the highest urgency. During the La Liga fixture against Osasuna on the weekend, both Modric and Kroos were rested to keep them fresh for the much-awaited return leg at Chelsea’s den. The midfield has been Real’s backbone this season, bailing them out of situations time and again, and a special performance from the midfield would be needed to see Madrid through to the final on Wednesday evening.
Attack
Marco Asensio will start on the right-hand side of the attacking line as he has done for most parts of the season. The Spaniard showed a bit of flare during the weekend clash against Osasuna and is expected to get the nod ahead of Rodrygo. Karim Benzema will be the man in charge of leading Madrid’s attack. The Real Madrid number nine scored the vital goal at the Alfredo de Stefano to keep the match level at 1-1. Eden Hazard is all set for another reunion with his former team at his former home, Stamford Bridge. Against Osasuna, Hazard was amongst the brightest performers and Chelsea will be worried about the return of form of their ex-star. Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo could be introduced in the latter stages of the game.
Real Madrid Predicted Line-Up Against Chelsea
