After an impressive away performance against Real Madrid, Chelsea will host the Whites at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in the Champions League.
Chelsea were arguably the better team against Real Madrid away from home, and will perhaps feel aggrieved not to come away with a win.
Thomas Tuchel will still be happy that they have an away goal, but it will only make the return leg that much harder as Real Madrid know they will have to score at least once.
Chelsea have been a lot more consistent under Tuchel than they were under Frank Lampard. Confidence is high as they are in the final of the FA Cup, and they will look to make it to the final of the Champions League as well.
Chelsea Team News
Mateo Kovacic is unavailable for selection as the Croatian hasn’t recovered fully from his thigh injury.
Antonio Rudiger picked up a knock in the previous clash against Real Madrid, and did not feature against Fulham over the weekend. Tuchel is hopeful that the German shakes off his knock to make the Chelsea lineup on Wednesday.
Predicted Chelsea Lineup vs Real Madrid (3-5-2)
Defence
Edouard Mendy has been a reliable figure in goal for the Blues, and the custodian should keep his place in the Chelsea lineup.
A back three of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, and Thiago Silva is likely against Real Madrid. The trio did exceedingly well in the reverse leg, and will look to keep a clean-sheet come Wednesday.
Midfield
With Kovacic unavailable, Jorginho and N’Golo Kante could play as the two central midfielders in the Chelsea lineup.
Mason Mount is expected to play a more adventurous role from midfield, while the duo of Ben Chilwell and Cesar Azpilicueta could feature as the wing-backs.
Attack
Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic are expected to feature as the two forwards. Real Madrid’s defence will not be at its strongest come Wednesday, so the two forwards will have chances to breach the weakened backline.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will look to frustrate Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos during the second leg of their Champions League semi-final by giving him no-one to "fight" with. In other words play with no striker. pic.twitter.com/40vcpos2Lf
— Frank Khalid (@FrankKhalidUK) May 3, 2021
Pulisic showed what he can do in the previous leg, and considering Real Madrid will go searching for the opening goal, the former Dortmund man will have his openings on the break.
