By Goal.com News on Wednesday, 05 May 2021
Category: Goal.com News

LIVE: Chelsea vs Real Madrid

Chelsea will face Real Madrid for the fifth time in European competition, while they are unbeaten against them in the previous four (W2 D2). This will be the first time across the five meetings that Chelsea have hosted the Spanish side.

Zidane makes a huge call by bringing Ramos back into the side after he recovered from a calf problem that ruled him out for a month. The Spaniard's presence is required as Raphael Varane is absent with a thigh injury. Nacho and Mendy start in the full-back slots, while Kroos and Modric return to the midfield alongside Casemiro. Hazard starts against his former club in the final third with Vinicius and Benzema.

Chelsea have made four changes to their side that defeated Fulham last time out. Rudiger comes back into the side at the back in place of Zouma, who drops to the bench. Kante and Jorginho are restored to the middle of the park, while Azpilicueta gets the nod over James at right wing-back. The biggest decision comes in the final third where Havertz is retained ahead of Pulisic, despite the American's strike last week.

REAL MADRID SUBS: Marco Asensio, Marcelo, Andriy Lunin, Federico Valverde, Alvaro Odriozola, Isco, Mariano Diaz, Rodrygo Silva, Diego Altube, Sergio Arribas, Antonio Blanco, Miguel Gutierrez.

REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Nacho Fernandez, Eder Militao, Sergio Ramos, Ferland Mendy; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.

CHELSEA SUBS: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcos Alonso, Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic, Willy Caballero, Kurt Zouma, Olivier Giroud, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Hakim Ziyech, Billy Gilmour, Reece James, Emerson.

CHELSEA (3-4-3): Edouard Mendy; Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger; Cesar Azpilicueta, N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Ben Chilwell; Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner.

Real Madrid were not at their best last week, but still managed to secure a draw out of the contest. Los Blancos need to be better this evening in the final third, knowing that they have to score to advance to the final. Zinedine Zidane's men have won the Champions League in four out of the last seven years, and are bidding to reach a record-breaking 17th final. Their form has been up and down of late, but a victory over Osasuna at the weekend sends them into the contest with momentum.

Chelsea begin the evening with an away goal advantage courtesy of Christian Pulisic's strike in the 1-1 draw in Madrid last week. The Blues were solid last week and arguably should have taken a lead back to Stamford Bridge. However, Thomas Tuchel and his men are well placed to reach the final for a third time and first since their triumph in 2012. The Blues are in good form and will be confident, having dispatched Fulham 2-0 in their last outing.

Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the second leg Champions League semi-final clash between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge.

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