Ahead of the highly anticipated Champions League semi-final first leg clash between Real Madrid and Chelsea, here is everything you need to know. The game is set to take place on Tuesday, with kick-off at 8 pm BST. The match will be broadcast live on BT Sport in the UK and will also be available to stream online.
Both teams will be eager to get the win in the first leg, as they look to take an advantage into the second leg of the tie. The game promises to be an exciting one, with two of Europe's biggest clubs battling it out for a place in the final.
Real Madrid and Chelsea have only met each other twice in competitive fixtures, with each side winning one game apiece. However, both teams have been in good form recently, and the clash is expected to be a closely contested affair.
Real Madrid will be without their captain Sergio Ramos, who has been ruled out of the tie due to injury. Chelsea, on the other hand, have a fully fit squad to choose from, with manager Thomas Tuchel expected to field his strongest XI.
The odds are currently in favour of Real Madrid, who are priced at 6/5 to win the game, while Chelsea are priced at 5/2 to come out on top. However, anything can happen in football, and both teams will be looking to give their all to secure a vital win in the first leg.
Chelsea will be hoping to salvage their season as they take on defending champions Real Madrid in the highly-anticipated first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash. The Blues' Premier League campaign has been a disappointment, making a deep run in Europe their only hope of success this season.
Despite a recent defeat to Wolves, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has expressed confidence ahead of the match and is hopeful for a different result at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Wednesday night.
Chelsea's main priority in the first leg will be to keep themselves in the tie, but they face a tough challenge against a formidable Real Madrid side who have already dispatched Liverpool in the last-16. Real Madrid also eliminated Chelsea at the same stage of the competition last year.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 8pm BST on April 12, 2023, and will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.
Viewers in the UK can watch the Real Madrid vs Chelsea game live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate, with coverage starting at 7pm BST. Subscribers can also stream the match live on the BT Sport app and website.
Standard Sport's live blog will provide expert analysis from Nizaar Kinsella on matchday, keeping fans updated on all the action as it unfolds.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti rested key players in their defeat to Villarreal over the weekend, but is expected to start Luka Modric, Eder Militao, and Federico Valverde against Chelsea. Striker Karim Benzema was also substituted after 60 minutes to ensure he remains injury-free ahead of this match. The Frenchman scored four goals against Chelsea in their last meeting.
Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante, who missed Chelsea's last match against Wolves, trained on Monday and could feature in the match against Real Madrid, providing a significant boost for manager Frank Lampard.
While Thiago Silva was seen training, he is not expected to return in time for the game against Real. In addition, Benoit Badiashile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Noni Madueke will be unavailable due to their exclusion from the Blues' Champions League squad.
Looking ahead to the clash between Real Madrid and Chelsea, it's hard to see Lampard's side coming away with a positive result from the Bernabeu. Despite some promising performances in the Champions League this season, the Blues have struggled for consistency domestically, and the return of their former manager has yet to bring about a significant upturn in form.
In contrast, Real Madrid have a strong track record in this competition and are likely to be a formidable opponent, particularly with the likes of Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior in top form. With the first leg taking place on home turf, it would be a surprise if Real did not take control of the tie, leaving Chelsea with a tough task in the return fixture.
Our prediction is a 3-1 victory for Real Madrid.
Looking at the head-to-head record between the two sides, it's clear that Chelsea have had some success against Real in the past. However, recent encounters have tended to go in the Spanish side's favour, particularly last season when they edged out the Blues in a thrilling encounter over two legs.
Overall, Real have won one, drawn two, and lost four of their previous meetings with Chelsea.
In terms of the match odds, Betfair currently has Real Madrid as the clear favourites at 7/10, with the draw priced at 14/5 and a Chelsea win available at 4/1. However, as always, these odds are subject to change in the lead-up to the game.
