Preview: Real Madrid vs Chelsea – prediction, team news, line-ups

Champions League football continues on Wednesday as Real Madrid host Chelsea to the Santiago Bernabeu in the first-leg of their quarter-final tie. 

Carlo Ancelotti’s men suffered a shocking 3-2 defeat at the weekend, which further reduced their chances of catching up with leaders Barcelona. 

With the Catalans now 13 points clear at the top, it would only be a miracle if Real still manage to lift the La Liga title. 

Therefore, Los Blancos’ full attention will be on the Champions League, a competition they have won on 14 occasions in the past. 

Despite making a poor start to the European match at Liverpool, Real Madrid ran out 5-2 winners in the first-leg of their last 16 tie. 

They also prevailed easily in the home leg by 1-0 to win the tie on an incredible 6-2 aggregate score. 

Carlo Ancelotti’s men will now come up against Chelsea who recently appointed Frank Lampard as their caretaker manager after sacking Graham Potter. 

Under Potter, the Blues outclassed Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, thus winning their last 16 tie on a 2-1 aggregate score. 

However, a 2-0 home loss to Aston Villa at the start of this month proved to be the English manager’s final game in West London. 

Lampard was in the dugout for Saturday’s encounter at Wolverhampton Wanderers but there was no new manager bounce for the Blues as they slumped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat.  

Team News 

Real Madrid don’t have a lot of injury woes this week as they can call upon the services of a near-fully fit squad for the upcoming clash. Ferland Mendy will be the only absentee as he is recovering from a calf issue. 

As for Chelsea, Armando Broja and Cesar Azpilicueta will be missing on Wednesday as they are currently on the treatment table. 

Meanwhile, the availability of Mason Mount will be doubtful due to his abdominal issue, even though he has travelled with the squad to Spain. 

Real Madrid vs Chelsea potential line-ups

Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Modric, Camavinga, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr 

Chelsea: Kepa; James, Fofana, Koulibaly, Chilwell; Kovacic, Fernandez, Kante; Sterling, Havertz, Felix

How to Watch? 

Real Madrid vs Chelsea, as well as all the other Champions League matches, can be watched via soccer streaming sites.  

Real Madrid vs Chelsea prediction 

Real Madrid have won each of their last five European matches at the Santiago Bernabeu. They will be at their full strength on Wednesday, with Carlo Ancelotti resting some of his key players at the weekend. 

We are backing the home side to claim a comfortable victory against Chelsea who have been highly unconvincing with their performances in recent weeks. 

Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea