There is only one step left to be in Istanbul. Chelsea and Real Madrid decide this Wednesday (9:00 p.m., Movistar Champions League) at Stamford Bridge the pass to the Champions League final after the 1-1 with which ended the first leg at the Alfredo Di Stéfano. The precedents in European competitions assign whites a probability of overcoming the tie of 27%.
Zinedine Zidane recovers troops for the match. In one go Ramos, Mendy and Valverde return to the list, the latter after knowing his negative in the second PCR test (he has been separated from the group for 16 days, first by isolating himself by being in close contact with a positive for COVID and then by testing positive himself) moments before the white expedition embarked on the plane to London. Modric and Kroos, whom Zidane reserved on the bench in the last league match against Osasuna, also traveled.
Statistical preview of Chelsea-Real Madrid back from the UEFA Champions League semifinals. BeSoccer Pro
The drawing, the great doubt of Zidane's eleven
With the only casualties of Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez, Zidane has completed the list of 23 players with three Castilla players: Miguel Gutiérrez, Blanco and Arribas. One of the great doubts is the drawing that the French coach has on the Stamford Bridge grass, if he will repeat the scheme with three centrals and two lanes for which he opted in the first leg or will he resort to his classic, and less and less usual, 4 -3-3.
Assuming this last system, the possible eleven that the Real Madrid coach can line up against Chelsea is made up of: Courtois; Nacho, Militao, Ramos, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Valverde or Asensio, Benzema and Hazard. On the bench, for the five available substitutions, Zidane can choose: Lunin, Altube, Odriozola, Marcelo, Miguel Gutiérrez, Blanco, Isco, Arribas, Asensio or Valverde, Vinicius, Rodrygo and Mariano.
Possible eleven of Chelsea and Real Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. AS infographic
Tuchel, with the same ones from Di Stéfano
In the London ranks, Tuchel, who maintains Kovacic's absence, can repeat the same eleven that he tied in the first leg last week at Di Stéfano. Namely, Chelsea's German manager will start 3-4-2-1 with: Mendy; Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rüdiger; Azpilicueta, Kanté, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Pulisic; and Werner. On the bench blue: Kepa, Caballero, Alonso, Emerson, James, Zouma, Gilmour, Havertz, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Abraham and Giroud.