Chelsea looked down and out after Real Madrid thrashed them 3-1 at the Stamford Bridge stadium in the first leg of their two legged Champions League quater final meeting last Wednesday thanks to a Karim Benzema hat-trick.
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The Blues, on the back of a 4-1 demolition in the hands of Brentford could not help themselves from falling to back to back defeats after Karim Benzema’s early strikes put the visitors in the driving seat on the night.
Kai Havertz managed to pull one back just before half time but again, Karim Benzema was to complete his hat-trick, pouncing on a mix-up between Edouard Mendy and Antonio Rüdiger to score his eleventh goal in the competition this season and league Thomas Tuchel’s side on the brink.
It was the first time Senegalese goalkeeper, Mendy has concede multiple goals in the competition since he signed for Chelsea, and Benzema was responsible for all three.
Consecutive losses could translate that The Blues are struggling and with the Champions League returning a week after their loss to Real, it could well spell the end for their quest to defend the title they won last year.
However, Chelsea in the weekend bounced back with a 6-0 hammering of Southampton away from home and the result has instilled the needed confidence heading into the second leg in Madrid on Tuesday.
Chelsea lost their invincible record against Real Madrid the last time out and they will be looking to put that behind them and take courage from the good record on their side, along with their newly found ability to score goals away from home to help them come out on top at the Bernabéu.
Real Madrid defeated Getafe 2-0 in the weekend thanks to goals from Casemiro and Lucas Vasquez while giving rests to the likes of Ferland Mendy, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos while Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior did not complete 90 minutes as Carlo Ancelotti wants to have them fresh for Tuesday.
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Chelsea’s big win over Southampton will surely be a concern for Real Madrid and will also have them prepared well and concede that the battle is not yet won until the full time whilsle on Madrid on Tuesday night.
Eder Militao will miss the second leg due his yellow card at the Stamford Bridge making it three for him in the competition this season and Nacho Fernandez is expected to come in for him, a switch which Chelsea will see as a weakness they can explore.
This gives Carlo Ancelotti something to ponder but at the other end, the urge to go out on the attack might leave Chelsea vulnerable at the back, affording the likes of Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior the avenue to wreck havocs as they did in London.
It is a tricky contest which might go anywhere in the end but the 3-1 lead Madrid take into the match only gives them advantage, but not an assurance of their progress to the last four. However, Chelsea will have the more difficult task of overcoming a two goal deficit at the Bernabéu.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
