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

Chelsea will be looking to overturn a two-goal deficit when they host Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge in the second-leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday. 

The Blues slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the weekend against Brighton & Hove Albion, with Julio Enciso scoring the winner after Danny Welbeck cancelled out the advantage of Conor Gallagher’s deflected strike. 

That was their third successive loss since Frank Lampard took interim charge following the sacking of Graham Potter. 

The West Londoners ended their run of four games without a goal through Gallagher’s shot, but that was no consolation for a side that is now 14 points off Tottenham Hotspur in fifth. 

The Champions League is the last hope of a trophy for Chelsea this season. But their chances of progressing to the semi-final looks slim after losing the first leg 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

Karim Benzema fired his side ahead with a simple tap-in after 21 minutes before substitute Marco Asensio extended the scoreline late in the match. 

Los Blancos were also at the top of their game last weekend as they ran out 2-0 winners against Cadiz at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla. 

The Yellow Submarine kept the visitors at bay for a long period but Nacho broke the deadlock in the 72nd-minute before Asensio quickly added another to wrap up the victory. 

With Barcelona dropping points at Getafe, Real managed to cut the Catalans’ lead to 11 points at the top of the table. 

Team News 

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard will not be able to avail the services of Ben Chilwell after receiving a straight red in the first-leg at the Bernabeu. 

Kalidou Koulibaly also picked up a knock in the Spanish capital, joining Armando Broja on the sidelines. 

Meanwhile, Kai Havertz, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Carney Chukwuemeka will all need to be assessed ahead of Tuesday’s match. 

As for Real Madrid, some of their key players will be missing this week with Vinicius Junior, Toni Kroos and Ferland Mendy all nursing injuries at the moment. 

Asensio, who scored in Real’s victory over Cadiz last weekend, should keep his place in the starting line-up. 

Chelsea vs Real Madrid potential line-ups

Chelsea: Kepa; James, Fofana, Silva, Cucurella; Fernandez, Kante, Kovacic; Mudryk, Havertz, Felix

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

How to Watch? 

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

Chelsea vs Real Madrid prediction 

Confidence is likely to be very low in the Chelsea camp on the back of their recent results. However, they still boast a lot of quality in their ranks and will fancy their chances in front of their home crowd. 

But Real’s recent form suggests they will win the Stamford Bridge encounter on Tuesday. 

Chelsea 1-2 Real Madrid