Five reasons to believe

The going passed from Champions semi-finals League for the Di Stéfano stadium and the Madrid could not go from tie against Chelsea. It can be considered a good result, the Londoners hurt the whites in the first half by taking advantage of the spaces between middle and defense, the result of an unbalanced pressure, but they only obtained a goal as a prize that Benzema neutralized with his volleyball, half an hour into the game.

All in all, it is a important loot the one of Chelsea, which remains the most difficult rival for whites in European competitions: four games, two draws and two defeats, without victories for Madrid so far. And the precedents from the merengue team in the semifinals of the European Cup they do not invite optimism: they drew 1-1 at home three times in the first leg and fell three times, against Bayern (1975-76), PSV (1987-88) and Milan (1988-89). But, with that and with everything, with the squad exhausted by the enormous efforts and against one of the toughest teams to crack on the Old Continent, the Real Madrid still have Reasons to believe in which you can reach the end of Istanbul.

Nacho and Militao, recovered for the cause

Madrid had the most demanding stage of the season without their two starting centrals: at Ramos injuries the positive in COVID-19 of Varane joined (later, the Sevillian would also fall), and Zidane threw from Nacho Y Militao in the double duel against Liverpool, in the Clásico against Barcelona and in the first leg against Chelsea, in the latter case with Varane also forming a five-man defense. The performance of Nacho and Militao has been exceptional during all this time and the duel against Chelsea added a new episode to the process.

Militao, with four recoveries, was the most exuberant: he gave 62 good passes out of 68 (91%), he prevailed in 70% of the matches he entered (16 in total), emerged victorious in six of the seven innings he made and only lost nine balls. In addition, he was an involuntary assistant when he headed a ball into the area that Benzema would turn into 1-1. Militao was supposed to have enormous conditions (not in vain, it cost 50 million from Porto in 2019), but his past career had generated doubts; He has cleared them with his performance at the end of the season and clarifies the outlook quite a bit for Madrid, which this summer has to make decisions both with Bouquets (if it renews or if not) and Varane (He does not want to sign, so he can get traded).

Nacho was more discreet, a constant in him that many times avoid compliments that should be received. Against Chelsea, he recovered four balls, although it touched him scroll long many times and lost up to 17; He gave 57 good passes of 71 (80%) and went much further than Militao in the rival field (26 passes in Chelsea territory; the Brazilian, 13). The alcalaíno, who contract ends in 2022He is waiting for the club to resolve the situation of Ramos and Varane to sit down and talk, but for now his end of the year enables him to think of him as a potential starter next year. As much as it is repeated, what “Nacho always complies” no stop being a true as a temple.

Valverde and Mendy, last minute signings

If there are no unforeseen events, Stamford Bridge Madrid will travel with Fede Valverde Y Ferland mendy suitable to be able to play from the beginning. The Frenchman's muscular problem required about ten days that have already been fulfilled and it is hoped that he can have a few minutes against Osasuna on Saturday, in order to start in London. Zidane lined up Marcelo in the first leg and for this he formed with three center-backs, the plan he usually applies when he wants to take care of the back of the Brazilian full back. Marcelo did not finish damaging in attack and in defense he struggled, and in the return Zidane needs a favorable result (win or draw by 2-2, at the very least, to avoid extra time), so the incorporation of Mendy will allow you to return to the defense of four and fill the midfield or attack with one more man to avoid the superiority on the inside that Chelsea showed at Di Stéfano.

In that task Valverde it seems fundamental. The Uruguayan has already tested negative in the PCR test and a new negative is expected in the next few hours that confirm that you no longer have an active infection and that, therefore, he can return to exercise with his companions. His partner, the Argentine journalist Mina Bonino, confirmed that Valverde has passed the disease with hardly any symptoms. In view of what happened in the first half in Valdebebas, the presence of a deployment and arrival player like the Uruguayan, capable of sweeping the front and taking the ball at a gallop to the opposite area, takes on special weight. If all goes well, both players will enter the London eleven, reinforcing the attack plan with a view to crossing the semifinal, on the way to the capital of Turkey.

Benzema adds and continues

If Madrid take the tie alive to London, is thanks in good measure to Benzema, the best of the targets in Valdebebas with Militao. The Frenchman made it 1-1 with a great maneuver, controlling a loose ball with his head and releasing a volley lash with the right that Mendy didn't even see pass. Before he had already warned with a left foot to the post from 25 meters. Two samples of the sweet moment that Benzema goes through, that in 2021 has been uncovered: he has 16 goals in 21 games since he started this year.

In total, he has 28 goals this season, with five League games to be played and another in the Champions League that could be two, if Madrid surpasses the semifinals and reaches Istanbul. He goes for his record located in the 32 points that you wrote down in the 2015-16 season, in which Madrid reached the Champions final and took it against Atlético in Milan. In Champions, his appearances have been rationed and effective: he scored one in Mönchengladbach to help rescue a point 'in extremis', another to Inter at Valdebebas, two to Borussia to close the pass to the round of 16 as first in the group, one more to Atalanta in the round of 16 and the last against Chelsea.

Hazard goes to more

Against Betis Hazard enjoyed 13 minutes in which they peeked details and against Chelsea they were 24 ', in a closed duel and without ways to travel in which the Belgian returned to show his paw, and nothing more. Zidane decided to go with lead feet with the ex Chelsea and him had more than two weeks working with the group before doing reappear after your last injury, practically consecutive to the previous one (he could only play 15 minutes against Elche at home). With the current progression, hopefully the Belgian will complete at least a part in front of Osasuna Saturday and have options to start at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.

Hazard, a footballer who cost 100 million of euros and to which the injuries They have prevented him from showing himself fully (he has barely scored four goals and seven assists as a white player, in just under two years), he signed for Madrid to play games like this. He will also have the incentive to return to what was his home for seven seasons, where he won two Premier League titles and another two in the Europa League. In the semi-final round, Madrid needs the best Hazard and Hazard needs to be the best once with Madrid.

The example of the second part

While in the first part the Chelsea overwhelmed Madrid, and only the lack of aim and poor decision making prevented those of Tuchel from delving into the white wound, in the second Zidane put the plan back together, He put Casemiro back in between the center-backs and joined the lines in his own field. In those circumstances the Madrid felt much more comfortable, it arrived little to the rival area but hardly suffered danger, a sufficient prize at home, where conceding goals is expensive in Europe.

With that soccer-control of second time, Madrid ended up adding more passes than Chelsea (582 against 562) and turned the possession, which at halftime was 48-52 for the blues and that it ended at 51-49 for whites. Zidane already anticipated that this Saturday against Osasuna he will reserve pieces for the return, in view of the fact that the League has been complicated after the draws against Getafe and Betis and the exhaustion suffered (increasingly visible) by various members of the team, especially Modric and Kroos. With both rested and with the reinforcement of Valverde, Madrid have football arguments to dominate in London and seek a result that will give them the ticket to the final.