CHELSEA vs REAL MADRID, 2023 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Predicted lineups

The teams take to Stamford Bridge as the Blues look to overcome a two-goal deficit after Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio handed Carlo Ancelotti’s side the win at the Bernabeu less than a week ago.

Chelsea find themselves in the same situation as a year ago in requiring a convincing win to progress to a Champions League semi-final. On that occasion, they went 3-0 up before ultimately losing in extra time when Rodrygo and Karim Benzema spoiled Chelsea dreams.

Real Madrid visits Chelsea in the return leg of the Champions League Quarterfinals, with Vinicius and Kroos ready to return to the starting lineup after missing Saturday’s away match against Cadiz.

Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Camavinga, Kroos, Valverde, Modric, Rodrygo, Vinicius, Benzema.

Chelsea predicted XI: Kepa, James, Fofana, Silva, Cucurella, Enzo, Kante, Kovacic, Sterling, Mudryk, Joao Felix.

Carlo Ancelotti will likely repeat the same XI he used in the first leg, although it’s true that he could also take a more conservative approach and start Nacho on the left-back spot in order to insert a pure defensive midfielder.

Chelsea will be expected to play more aggressively as they need to overcome a 2-0 deficit. Lampard played with five defenders in the first leg but that won’t likely be the case tonight as Chelsea could try to use their width with Mudryk and Sterling.

Hello everybody and welcome along to this Champions League, this time taking you through the second leg of the quarter-final tie between Real Madrid and Chelsea. Real Madrid are in the comfortable position of having a 2-0 lead from their first leg in Spain, and they will want to not only protect that but build on it in London against a vulnerable Blues side.

Frank Lampard has lost his first three games back in charge of the club having lost to Wolves, Real Madrid by a 2-0 scoreline in the first leg, and then Brighton at the weekend.

It would be nothing short of a miracle if he suddenly found a formula at Chelsea which led to a 3-0 victory against Carlo Ancelotti’s side who still look imperious in the Champions League.

Chelsea vs Real Madrid: Predicted line-ups

Ben Chilwell is suspended for Chelsea after his red card in the first leg. That means Marc Cucurella is expected to go back into the left-back spot. Kalidou Koulibaly and Armando Broja are out and Kai Havertz, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will all be assessed in the run-up to the game.

Vinicius Junior and Toni Kroos both missed Real Madrid’s match at the weekend but they are expected to be back in line to start at Stamford Bridge. Ferland Mendy is a long-term absentee for Carlo Ancelotti.

Chelsea’s predicted XI (4-3-3): Kepa; James, Fofana, Silva, Cucurella; E. Fernandez, Kante, Kovacic; Mudryk, Havertz, Felix.

Real Madrid’s predicted XI (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Camavinga; Modric, Valverde, Kroos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.

Chelsea vs Real Madrid: When does it start?

The Champions League fixture between Chelsea and Real Madrid kicks off at 21:00 CEST, which is the local time in Madrid.

That makes it a 20:00 BST kick-off in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Fans in the USA can tune in at 12:00 PST or 15:00 EST.

Chelsea vs Real Madrid: Where can you watch it?

Date: 04/18/2023

Time: 21:00 CET, 03:00pm EST.

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London, United Kingdom.

Available TV: Movistar Liga de Campeones (Spain)

Fans in the UK wanting to watch the Champions League tie between Chelsea and Real Madrid can tune in on BT Sport 1.

In the USA, Paramount+, Fubo.TV (USA). has access to every Champions League game, including Real Madrid vs Chelsea.

This is the Official line-ups and latest Updates of the Chelsea vs Real Madrid – Champions League 22/23