Will the Blancos create a good starting position?
When people around Real Madrid talk about a “bestia negra”, they usually mean FC Bayern. In fact, however, Chelsea is a much more fearful opponent of the Blancos. In five competitive games to date, the royals have never managed a win against the Londoners, to whom the Champions League record winners were defeated in the semi-finals just a year ago.
The Blues are accordingly favoured going into their home match against the Spaniards. The Londoners are not only unbeaten in eight games against La Liga representatives (four wins, four draws), but are also hosting a team that has not won any of its last five matches in England. Accordingly, the odds on Chelsea against Real Madrid are swinging in the direction of the home team.
Chelsea celebrated only last summer’s overall victory in the top flight for the second time in the club’s history, made possible in part by the Blues’ defensive stability under Thomas Tuchel. In ten of the 15 Champions League games under the German’s leadership, the Londoners played to nil.
Accordingly, we see a lot of value in betting on a low-scoring first leg for Chelsea against Real Madrid, especially as a result like 0-0 would also put the Blancos in an excellent position for the second leg.
Chelsea – Statistics & current form
Chelsea won the Champions League last summer under Thomas Tuchel and added to that coup in the 2021/22 season by winning the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
At national level, too, it looked for a while as if the Pensioners could once again compete for the championship. Between the fifth and 14th matchday, the Londoners led the Premier League table. However, they are now 14 points behind Manchester City on the log.
Only lost one of the last eleven Champions League matches
Although the Blues are still in the FA Cup, where they have an excellent chance of reaching the final at home to city rivals Crystal Palace in the semi-finals. The main focus, however, should be on defending the title in the top flight, where Chelsea have won six of their eight competitive matches this season with 17:5 goals (one draw, one defeat).
Last season, the Pensioners already set the course for a place in the Champions League final at home when, after a 1-1 draw at the Bernabéu, a 2-0 home win at Stamford Bridge led to a triumph over Real Madrid.
Saturday’s dress rehearsal failed against Brentford
The Londoners are also favourites going into their home game now.
After winning six consecutive competitive games, the Blues lost 4-1 at home to city rivals Brentford on Saturday, only their second home defeat in their 14th Premier League home game of the current season.
Predicted Chelsea line-up:
Mendy – Alonso – Rüdiger – Silva – Christensen – Azpilicueta – Kanté – Kovacic – Pulisic – Ziyech – Havertz
Last matches played by Chelsea:
Premier League
04/02 2022 – Chelsea FC 1 – 4 Brentford
FA Cup
03/19 2022 – Middlesboro 0 – 2 Chelsea FC
Champions League Final
03/16 2022 – Lille 1 – 2 FC Chelsea
Premier League
03/13 2022 – Chelsea FC 1 – 0 Newcastle United
03/10 2022 – Norwich 1 – 3 Chelsea FC
Real Madrid – Statistics & current form
Real Madrid are not only the Spanish record champions, but also the undisputed record winners of the Champions League with 13 overall victories. In the last 26 years, the Merengues have always taken part in the top flight without exception and have made it through the preliminary round every time.
Last season, their run only ended in the semi-finals and was halted by today’s opponents from England, against whom the white ballet is still without a win in five international matches so far.
Even in the round of 16 with comeback after first leg defeat
Carlo Ancelotti’s side will be suitably motivated going into the quarter-finals after their convincing performance in the round of 16, when Paris Saint-Germain were still impressively eliminated despite losing the first leg and trailing in the second leg.
In the league, even after losing the Clásico (0:4 at home to Barca), there was no more excitement. The Blancos are eight points ahead of the Catalans. On Saturday, moreover, the dress rehearsal was a success with a 2-1 win away to Celta Vigo.
Winless in five European games in England
The Madrilenians now have to prove in the top flight that the Clásico defeat has really not left any lasting traces. In principle, the form is right, because apart from the defeat against Barca, there have been victories without exception in the last seven competitive matches.
Nevertheless, the Galacticos have always struggled, especially in England. The Blancos have failed to win any of their last five international matches on the island (two draws, three defeats), which is why betting on a win at Stamford Bridge against Real Madrid is not in the best of hands.
Predicted Real Madrid line-up:
Courtois – Fernández – Alaba – Militao – Carvajal – Modric – Kroos – Valverde – Júnior – Asensio – Benzema
Last matches played by Real Madrid:
La Liga
04/02 2022 – Celta Vigo 1 – 2 Real Madrid
03/20 2022 – Real Madrid 0 – 4 FC Barcelona
03/14 2022 – Mallorca 0 – 3 Real Madrid
Champions League Final
03/09 2022 – Real Madrid 3 – 1 Paris Saint-Germain
La Liga
03/05 2022 – Real Madrid 4 – 1 Real Sociedad
Chelsea – Real Madrid Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 3 – 2 – 0
Five times the two teams have faced each other so far and never before has Real Madrid recorded a win against Chelsea. Most recently, the Londoners held their own in the 2020/21 Champions League semi-finals with a 2-0 home win in the second leg after a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Bernabéu.
Chelsea – Real Madrid Tip
Generally, we expect the Blancos to be similarly minded to the way they were in the last 16, when they were defensive-minded away to PSG in the first leg and could have lived perfectly well with a 0-0 draw before suffering a last-minute defeat. The Madrilenians know their home strength and will be looking to decide the game at home in the Bernabéu, which is why the forecast is for a low-scoring first leg at Chelsea against Real Madrid
In addition to a defensive tactic by the Blancos, the defensive strength of the Londoners ultimately argues for a game that is not too high-scoring. Under Thomas Tuchel, the Blues have played to nil in ten of their 15 Champions League matches.
