Real Madrid vs Chelsea Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions League

Prediction published on 10/04/2022, 01:22  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 10/04/2022 at 01:23 in Champions League Predictions

Real Madrid and Chelsea warmed up for their Champions League quarter final return leg clash with wins in their domestic games. The two giants face off at the Santiago Bernabeu, with hosts Real Madrid leading the tie 3-1. Real Madrid beat Getafe 2-0 for their third straight win and second clean sheet in five matches. It was the fourth time in five that they scored more than a goal and will feel ready for the reigning European champions. Karim Benzema scored a hat trick in the first leg meeting in London and he will be a man to watch again after scoring six times in the last two Champions League games. The last time he missed a game through injury, Real were thrashed 4-0 by arch rivals Barcelona. The Frenchman started against Getafe but was among players who were subbed in the second half with Real comfortably leading. Carlo Ancelotti rested his midfield duo of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, clearly with this game in mind, while Casemiro, who scored in the game, was also subbed.

Chelsea had an emphatic response in bouncing back from two straight defeats; they whacked a hapless Southampton 6-0 on Saturday to warm up for this game. All their goals came in the opening 55 minutes as the Blues sent a statement, but at the Santiago Bernabeu, it will be a different kind of challenge. The champions could be without Cesar Azpilicueta, who missed the Southampton win after testing positive for Covid, while Romelu Lukaku is out injured. Azpilicueta will be missed more. Chelsea had conceded seven times before that rout, and will be keen on defending better in Spain, while having it in them to score at least two unanswered goals at a very tough venue. This will be Thomas Tuchel’s biggest test in his Champions League experience at Chelsea. Indeed, the Blues have scored two or more goals in three of their last five matches and looking at their Champions League performance, there’s all the indication they can score twice in Spain. The big question remains if they can shut out Real, in their current form, the Blues having managed just two clean sheets in their last five Champions League games.