SMGB TODAY Sports, Movies, TV Shows
Real Madrid and Chelsea, two of the biggest football clubs in the world, are set to face off in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final on May 5th, 2021. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving everything to play for in the second leg. Both teams will be looking to secure a spot in the final, where they will face either Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain.
19 APRIL 2023
TIME:03:00 PM ET
Real Madrid, who are currently sitting in second place in the La Liga table, have had an up-and-down season. They started the season slowly, but have picked up their form in recent weeks, winning six of their last seven games in all competitions. However, they will be without their captain and talisman, Sergio Ramos, who is set to miss the match due to injury. This will be a big blow for Real Madrid, as Ramos is one of the best defenders in the world and a key player for the team.
On the other hand, Chelsea have been in excellent form since Thomas Tuchel took over as manager in January. The Blues have lost just two games in all competitions under Tuchel and have been defensively solid, conceding just 10 goals in 17 games. They will be looking to continue their impressive form in the second leg and secure a spot in the final.
One of the key battles in the match will be in midfield, where both teams have some of the best players in the world. Real Madrid’s midfield trio of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro will be up against Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, and Mason Mount. Modric and Kroos are two of the best passers in the game and will be looking to control the tempo of the match. Meanwhile, Kante has been in outstanding form this season and will be a key player for Chelsea in breaking up Real Madrid’s attacks.
Another important battle will be between the two strikers, Karim Benzema and Timo Werner. Benzema has been in excellent form this season, scoring 21 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid. He will be looking to continue his scoring streak in the second leg and lead his team to victory. On the other hand, Werner has struggled to find his form in front of goal since joining Chelsea last summer. However, he has been playing well in recent weeks and will be looking to make an impact in the biggest game of the season.
Both teams have some injury concerns heading into the match. Apart from Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid will also be without their first-choice right-back, Dani Carvajal, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Chelsea will be without Mateo Kovacic, who has been out with a hamstring injury since early April. However, they will have a fully fit squad apart from Kovacic.
The match is real madrid vs chelsea 2nd leg set to take place at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s home ground. This will give the Blues a slight advantage, as they will have the backing of their home fans. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, only a limited number of fans will be allowed inside the stadium. This means that the home advantage may not be as significant as it would be under normal circumstances.
In terms of tactics, both teams are likely to play cautiously in the first half and look to avoid conceding an early goal. Real Madrid will be looking to control the possession and play their usual possession-based game, while Chelsea will be looking to hit Real Madrid on the counter-attack. The key for Chelsea will be to keep a tight defensive shape and limit Real Madrid’s chances in front of goal.
