Manchester City will be eagerly awaiting to know who they will have to go against at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on 29 May.
Chelsea lock horns with Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge tonight for the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals.
The first leg of this blockbuster fixture at the Alfredo Di Stefano last week ended in a stalemate albeit in the favor of the traveling team, with Christian Pulisic scoring a crucial away goal in the 1-1 draw.
Chelsea have been a resurgent force under their new manager and are being considered as favorites by many to go through but Real Madrid have a rich history in the competition as well as a taste for big games.
Chelsea vs Real Madrid Form
The Blues warmed up for the big match with a 2-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League, extending their unbeaten streak to five games in all competitions.
Rock-solid defensively, Thomas Tuchel’s men have let in just a single goal in their last five games – the stunning overhead kick that Karim Benzema scored in the first leg. In their 11 Champions League matches so far this season, they have conceded just four goals and kept seven clean sheets.
Their winning record at home, however, is a cause of concern. Chelsea have managed to win only two of their five home games in Europe this season. But they can take relief from the fact that they have progressed to the next stage in the Champions League five times in the last seven attempts after avoiding defeat in the first leg.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, warmed up for the match with an identical win as of their upcoming opponents’ as they beat Osasuna 2-0.
Zinedine Zidane had a number of key players out injured for the first leg. While the manager is still far from having a fully fit squad, some of his important players have returned, so that should be a boost.
They are unbeaten in all competitions since January, having avoided defeat in 19 matches since the surprise 2-1 loss to Levante in La Liga.
Los Blancos, just like their midweek opponents, can also take pride in their rigid backline. They have conceded just nine goals during their 19-game unbeaten run, have recorded five clean sheets in their previous six outings, and it has been over four months since they last conceded more than one goal in a match.
Chelsea vs Real Madrid Head-to-head
Only thrice have the two European giants gone against each other in official fixtures. Real Madrid hold a slight edge, having registered two wins.
Chelsea vs Real Madrid Team News
Tuchel only has a single injury concern to deal with. Mateo Kovacic will miss the second reunion with his former side due to a thigh injury.
Zidane, meanwhile, will be without three of his regular defenders – Raphael Varane, Lucas Vazquez, and Dani Carvajal.
Predicted XIs:
Chelsea vs Real Madrid Latest Odds
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