Chelsea receives this Wednesday for the first time in its history Real Madrid on Stamford Bridge in the semifinal round of Champions League to decide the finalist who will accompany Manchester City.
In the first leg the English made more merits to take the victory, however, the score was not entirely fair with them and the match ended in a draw 1-1. The first leg scorers were Christian Pulisic Y Karim Benzema, this being Benzema a goal questioned in various media because it could be canceled due to a previous foul that the VAR did not review.
The first leg was left behind and now it is time to focus on the remaining 90 minutes of the tie, for the moment the 1-1 favors the Chelsea for the away goal, although it is a minimal advantage that would only favor the English in case a single goal is not scored in the second leg.
Although it seems something that is not so complicated for the “blues” under the command of Thomas Tuchel, in front is the Real Madrid, although it is mainly Karim Benzema the one in charge of danger, those plays that worried the defense of the Chelsea they were caused by the French striker.
The Madrid continues to be favorite to reach the final, where the rival is already waiting Manchester City, but Chelsea He showed in the first leg that he can make the Spanish giants suffer and even dominate. Kanté took over the pitch and the Madrid he could do nothing to prevent it. It is possible that for the return little change on paper since the schools arrive practically similar, in any case it would be the Madrid the one affected by losing Dani carvajal on the right wing.
It is difficult to determine a favorite to advance to the final, Chelsea has a slight advantage and a young team hungry to succeed on the highest stage, on the other hand, there is the most winning club in Champions League, who always aspires to win and rarely fails to do so.
The German Thomas Tuchel, have faith that your Chelsea can cope with the Madrid and get to the end.
“The challenge is to maintain the intensity throughout the game. It’s a semi-final, the pressure is great, a knockout match, so it is necessary to arrive with a level of trust and faith, or we will not have any chance ”, Tuchel said. “The main lesson is that we can trust ourselves and that we have the right to be in the semi-final. We deserve to be there and perform at this level. If we give the best of ourselves we will achieve it. It is obvious that you have to go for victory. In this club it’s about winning“.
For its part, Zinedine Zidane He showed confidence in his team heading into the second leg.
“The feelings are good and we are happy to play this game. We know what got us here. We are here for our work. In football there are no miracles, they don’t exist. Everyone here is ready. We are all to death for a Champions semi-final, which is not played every day. We are sure to have to suffer. I care what we do with the ball, ”said Zidane.
In the Chelsea the absence of Mateo Kovacic, who will not be able to face his former team, Antonio Rudiger It was doubtful due to a facial injury, but everything seems to indicate that he will be able to play using a protector.
In the Real Madrid there are more problems in terms of absentees, Dani carvajal had already been confirmed as absent for the rest of the season, the Spanish joins Raphael varane as absent for the return and Lucas Vazquez it stays out. As for the good news for Zidane, there is the return to the call for Federico Valverde Y Sergio Ramos.
Part of the interest of this great game continues to be in Eden Hazard, who has seen a few minutes after returning from his last injury, but who attracts everyone’s expectation for his past as an important player for him Chelsea and if he can hurt his former team.
Manchester City He already has his name installed in the final in Istanbul, it only remains to wait for the final whistle of this duel between the Spanish and the English to know who will face Guardiola’s team next. May 29. Will Zidane continue to make history and advance for the fourth time to a final of Champions League Or perhaps an English final awaits us for the third time.
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