Chelsea v Real Madrid UCL Quarter Final: Preview, Odds, Predictions (April 18)
Initial Thoughts
Chelsea have a good record of overturning first leg defeats in the Champions League. But against UCL specialist Real Madrid, and with the club in disarray both on and off the pitch, Frank Lampard's men surely face too big a task on Tuesday night
The Narrative
Don’t worry Chelsea fans, things could be worse. But then again, maybe they couldn't….
Languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table for the first time in decades. Ninety minutes away from no European football of any kind next season. The third manager of the campaign still winless after three defeats in a row. And all that after investing more £500M on a lineup of supposed superstars.
If that weren’t depressing enough, Chelsea now face the prospect of overturning a 2-0 deficit against Real Madrid on Tuesday, with the Spanish side in complete control of the UCL quarter final second leg.
If anyone really thought the interim appointment of Frank Lampard was going to turn the tide at Stamford Bridge, few would have predicted three consecutive defeats in all competitions instead.
Chelsea are so short on confidence that any ‘new manager bounce’ failed to materialize, with the west London side falling to Wolves and Brighton in the Premiership, alongside that one-sided loss to Real at the Bernabeu last week.
The one plus side of the defeat to Brighton on the weekend was Conor Gallaghers’s 13th minute goal, which saw the Blues find the net for the first time in five matches.
But the poorly hit and massively deflected strike was one of the worst goals you’ll see in the Premier League this season, and pretty much sums up Chelsea’s toothless attack this campaign.
Nuts and Bolts
Chelsea have lost only one of their last 10 UCL games at Stamford Bridge, and the west London club successfully overturned a first leg loss against Borussia Dortmund in the last round.
But since then Chelsea seem to have fallen even further, with Graham Potter’s dismissal undermining Todd Boehly’s supposed master plan as well as the fragile confidence of the dressing room.
The Blues haven't won since overcoming relegation strugglers Leicester at the beginning of March. So even though Chelsea have a good record of overturning first leg defeats in the competition, it's hard to see how Lampard and co can turn it around on Tuesday night.
Reigning European Champions Real Madrid have failed to progress after winning the first leg on a single occasion, and their record against English clubs is second to none at this stage of the competition.
Ancelotti’s men have won each of their last five knockout fixtures, with each one of those coming against Premier League opposition. And the 2-0 scoreline in the first leg hardly reflects Real's total dominance of the first 90 minutes of this tie.
Homestand Picks
All odds courtesy of Northstar Bets
Perhaps because it's the last thing that they have to play for this season - and because of that comeback against Dortmund in the last round - the bookmakers are giving Chelsea a striking chance of getting back into this game. That means Real are great value for the win on Tuesday night.
Karim Benzama Over 1.5 shots on target (+150)
The Frenchman has chalked up 14 goals and two assists in his last nine UCL knockout games, so these odds look great value at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.
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