The 1-1 of the first leg in Madrid gives the Chelsea certain favoritism facing the return of the semifinals of Champions League, a match played in Stamford Bridge this Wednesday. It is difficult for the set of Zinedine Zidane, but he does not give up much less and is clear that he can leave out those of Thomas tuchel. The following are some of the tactical keys that the game can have:
1. Madrid, back to 4-3-3?
In the first leg, and despite not having Sergio Ramos, Zidane opted for a system with three centrals, but it seems unlikely that the formula will be repeated in the second leg. It did not go as expected and at times Madrid was overcome. If we add to this that the white team is obliged to score, it is logical to think that the chosen tactical drawing will be rather a 4-3-3 with Asensio and Hazard up close to Benzema, an offensive and brave version as the appointment deserves. . There are doubts regarding the right-back, with the possibility that Valverde will play as he did in Liverpool, but the good performance recently offered by Nacho makes the youth squad oppose it, understanding that in the center of the rear will be Ramos and Militao.
2. The pause of a Chelsea with the ball
In the first half hour of the first leg, Chelsea passed over Real Madrid, but it did so taking risks that today it does not have to assume from the start. In fact, a Chelsea is expected rather with a certain pause with the ball even though it will not have Kovacic, who would not do anything bad in that sense. Since Tuchel's arrival, the 'blue' team has been wonderfully chameleonic, dominating various registers and playing styles in record time, but one of the first premises when he arrived was to grow through the ball. Proof of this is that in his debut against Wolverhampton Chelsea passed 800 passes. This Wednesday he will try to have the ball as much as he can.
3. Casemiro's back
One of the keys by which Chelsea prevailed in terms of sensations in the first leg was how much it punished Casemiro's back. Mainly in the first half, when the Brazilian was in charge of jumping for Jorginho, making it easier for Mount, Pulisic and Werner to appear once after another in the space he left between him and the defense. Zidane pulled the strings at halftime and in the second half the story was different, but surely Tuchel will try to repeat the formula; more if possible if Madrid forms with a duo and not three centrals.
4. The ‘Valverde factor’
The forecasts do not indicate that the Uruguayan is a starter after arriving at the duel at the last minute after having tested negative for COVID-19, but it cannot be completely ruled out. In fact, if not at the beginning, it seems coherent to think that Valverde is on the green at some point, and his participation can alter, and much (for the better) the Real Madrid plan. In Liverpool he left acting as a full-back and on occasions he has occupied the right wing in a false 4-3-3 that is rather a consistent 4-4-2 with which Madrid feel very comfortable. ‘El Pajarito’ is a differential factor in tactics for the good of Madrid.
5. The shakers from the bench
Without being a tactical key to the initial plan, the bullets in each other's chamber will surely lead to modifications in the game that could well be reflected on the scoreboard. A good example of this is what can happen in terms of Vinicius, who is expected to sit on the bench. Depending on how Chelsea defend he could very well be the shaker in the tree for Madrid to change the pace of the match if needed.