Match Previews

country flag Uefa Champions League Round 1/2 Final (2)
Wed 05 May 2021 20:00
Referee
Daniele Orsato (ITA)
Weather at KO
weather icon Overcast  7oC | Precip: 18% (0.25 mm) | Wind 2.7 m/s
Travel Info
3 hours plane
Distance
1,230 KM
Venue
No Fans

Chelsea

Last updated: Thu 06 May 2021 09:14
In Brief

Have slight edge after first leg, but tie remains wide open. Busy on domestic stage too, with top 4 finish on the line. Kovacic ruled out, but Rudiger hopes to be back.

Looking Back

Chelsea did enough to earn 1:1 draw in Madrid last week, Blues even took the lead and also could have scored more away goals in this match. In the end what proved costly in regards to not wining this match was fact that many of players involved lack experience of playing matches so deep in the top competition.

On Saturday routine 2:0 win over Fulham left Chelsea in pole position in regards to securing top 4 finish in league.

Most impressive part of displays since Tuchel took charge in February the improved defending. Blues kept 13 clean sheets in just last 17 games in all competitions!

Looking Ahead

Coach Tuchel gave his main inner midfielders Kante and Jorginho much needed rest at weekend so now they both will be fresh and ready to go. Captain Azpilicueta also not used on Saturday, but likely to start now.

Kovacic failed to recover on time, but Rudiger has good chance of being passed fit.

Real Madrid

Last updated: Thu 06 May 2021 09:14
In Brief

No fans permitted. Just won at the weekend while managing to rest Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Missing the injured Raphael Varane, Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez. Slight injury doubts over Ferland Mendy and Sergio Ramos.

Looking Back

Just defeated Osasuna 2-0 at the weekend in LaLiga. They even managed to do so while leaving Luka Modric and Toni Kroos on the bench for the whole game to give them a much-needed rest.

Looking Ahead

No fans permitted.

Starting right-back Dani Carvajal is back out injured again and starting winger Lucas Vazquez, who has spent most of this season playing at right-back in Carvajal's absence, is out injured. So, Alvaro Odriozola should be the option there. That's a big dropoff.

Starting left-back Ferland Mendy is a slight injury doubt. His natural replacement is Marcelo, who is available after getting out of electoral duty. But if Mendy doesn't make it, Zidane might even decide to use Nacho at left-back since Marcelo has been unconvincing of late.

Starting centre-back Sergio Ramos is a slight injury doubt and starting centre-back Raphael Varane is ruled out injured. Backup centre-back Eder Militao is playing really well right now, so this isn't as serious an issue as it could have been.

Backup midfielder Fede Valverde has now tested negative for COVID-19 and is available.

Points of Interest

There is no real advantage for either side in terms of rest time since they both had their most recent match on Saturday.

Manager Comments

Zidane gave nothing away in his pre-match press conference over the big question of whether he'll use a 3-5-2 or a 4-3-3. That remains the big question mark.

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Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability) Rested
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Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability) Rested
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Real Madrid

Last updated: Thu 06 May 2021 09:14
In Brief

No fans permitted. Just won at the weekend while managing to rest Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Missing the injured Raphael Varane, Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez. Slight injury doubts over Ferland Mendy and Sergio Ramos.

Looking Back

Just defeated Osasuna 2-0 at the weekend in LaLiga. They even managed to do so while leaving Luka Modric and Toni Kroos on the bench for the whole game to give them a much-needed rest.

Looking Ahead

No fans permitted.

Starting right-back Dani Carvajal is back out injured again and starting winger Lucas Vazquez, who has spent most of this season playing at right-back in Carvajal's absence, is out injured. So, Alvaro Odriozola should be the option there. That's a big dropoff.

Starting left-back Ferland Mendy is a slight injury doubt. His natural replacement is Marcelo, who is available after getting out of electoral duty. But if Mendy doesn't make it, Zidane might even decide to use Nacho at left-back since Marcelo has been unconvincing of late.

Starting centre-back Sergio Ramos is a slight injury doubt and starting centre-back Raphael Varane is ruled out injured. Backup centre-back Eder Militao is playing really well right now, so this isn't as serious an issue as it could have been.

Backup midfielder Fede Valverde has now tested negative for COVID-19 and is available.

Points of Interest

There is no real advantage for either side in terms of rest time since they both had their most recent match on Saturday.

Manager Comments

Zidane gave nothing away in his pre-match press conference over the big question of whether he'll use a 3-5-2 or a 4-3-3. That remains the big question mark.

Suspended
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Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability) Rested
  • ---

Key

Key players
Regular players
Support players
75% - Chance of availability
Artificial Pitch
Universal Player Grid
Squad Confirmed
Played in Cup fixture
New Information

Team Strength*

Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Just Adequate
Poor
*Based on Available Players