Chelsea host Real Madrid in the Champions League tonight, hoping to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit in a tough ask.
Los Blancos roared to a 2-0 lead in the first leg and will fancy their chances of avoiding a shocking collapse against a Chelsea side who have not won any of their last six games across all competitions – the second time this season they have been on such a run. Not since February 1995 have they made it to seven without victory.
Date, kick-off time and venue
Chelsea vs Real Madrid is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off time tonight on Tuesday April 18, 2023.
The match will take place at Stamford Bridge in west London.
Chelsea vs Real Madrid Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Chelsea have lost two of their last three matches against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, with both defeats coming in the quarterfinals of the competition.
- Real Madrid won their previous game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge – no team has ever secured two away victories against the Blues in the UEFA Champions League.
- Real Madrid have progressed from 18 of their last 19 UEFA Champions league ties while winning the first leg by two or more goals, with their previous such failure coming against AS Monaco in the 2003-04 season.
- Chelsea overcame a first-leg deficit in the Round of 16 against Borussia Dortmund – only two teams in the history of the UEFA Champions League have overcome such deficits in both the Round of 16 and the quarterfinals.
> Chelsea vs Real Madrid historical statistics
Team News
Chelsea were forced to navigate the final half-hour of the first leg with 10 men after Ben Chilwell was given a straight red card for a last-man foul on Rodrygo, and the left-back will serve his suspension on Tuesday, surely signalling a recall for Marc Cucurella at left-back.
Kalidou Koulibaly is out for a “matter of weeks” with the hamstring problem he picked up at the Bernabeu – joining Armando Broja (knee) on the sidelines – while Kai Havertz (knee), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (back) and Carney Chukwuemeka (knock) will all need assessing over the next 48 hours, but the trio have trained ahead of this game.
Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante were left out of the squad to face Brighton with the second leg in mind, while recalls for Reece James, Joao Felix and Mateo Kovacic should also be in order. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Noni Madueke are all ineligible.
Real Madrid boss Ancelotti was also without a couple of integral cogs for the weekend due to bumps and bruises, with Vinicius Junior and Toni Kroos both missing out with muscular overload alongside calf victim Ferland Mendy.
Mendy’s comeback will not come this week, but Kroos and Vinicius should be good to go after their precautionary absences, so Asensio’s reward for his recent goalscoring exploits should be a demotion to the bench.
In contrast, Fernandez’s goal at the weekend could give Ancelotti food for thought, but as was the case in last week’s victory, the fresh legs of Eduardo Camavinga could be utilised at left-back.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Kepa; James, Fofana, Silva, Cucurella; Fernandez, Kante, Kovacic; Mudryk, Havertz, Felix
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Camavinga; Modric, Valverde, Kroos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr
