Tonight at 10 PM EAT at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Real Madrid and Chelsea will meet. Let’s remind you that the Madrid team won their place in the quarter-finals at Anfield, with a convincing 5-2 victory, while the English team celebrated against Borussia Dortmund. This is the third consecutive season that the two teams will meet in the final stage of the Champions League. Chelsea were dominant in 2020/2021, while Real were so last year when they reached the semi-finals. Both times, the winner of the head-to-head clash also won the title of European club champion.The difference compared to last year is in the schedule of matches – the first is played in Madrid and the second in London. But also in the situation in which both teams are. They don’t shine in championship competitions, although with certain nuances. Real are in second place in La Liga and are finalists in Copa del Rey, after convincingly defeating Barcelona. Chelsea, however, are closer to the places that lead to the Championship than to a place in the Champions League next season.Nevertheless, it is important for both clubs to somehow “redeem” themselves in the Champions League, so considering the already traditional explosion of Real’s motivation in the European competition and the exceptional quality of the London team, this match-up looks promising.General Carletto vs his former soldier, confused Lampard vs powerful but unstable Real MadridThis is exactly the moment when the words “magic” and “mysticism” start to be heard again in Spain. Bernabeu Digital recalls that in last season’s meeting, it seemed there was no way out for the Whites “until the mystique was on the side of history.” David Alaba, whose celebration with a chair last year was one of the striking images of the meeting (he says he still keeps the chair), was asked yesterday if the English will be scared at the Bernabeu?”We will try to impress them. Our stadium and our fans are special. It’s not easy to beat us at home,” answered the Austrian.He added another favorite phrase of Real’s players: “We are the best club in the world and the pressure is great, but we like it.”It is clear that no one should rely on the – only relative – decline of the Royal Club. Cesar Azpilicueta, one of the direct witnesses of last year’s quarter-finals, warned: “They are dangerous, because you think you are in control of the game, and we saw the rest ourselves. We were leading with 0-3 and they made a turnaround. This kind of micromanaging of encounters is crucial.”The Spanish media is more or less in agreement that Real’s current squad – a unique mix of golden veterans such as Kroos, Modric and Benzema, and new hopes such as Vinicius or Valverde – is nearing its end. Catalan daily Sport (who else) points to their weaknesses. Of the 23 players, seven are out of contract, and another four have had no role under Ancelotti. The question is whether the Italian himself will remain at the head of the team. The club is waiting for the end of this season. And, the result in the Champions League will greatly influence the summer moves in the football market.Ancelotti has managed all 4️⃣ clubs that will play in the 🆑 today 😳#SportsGist Champions League | Al Nassr | Mason Mount | Davies | Coutinho | De Bruyne | Ballon D’or | Gnabry | Thiago Silva | Mohammed Kudus | King Promise | Real Madrid 3-0 Chelsea pic.twitter.com/ipZQDDYIEa— Sports Gist (@theSportsGist) April 12, 2023 Bolstered by the 4-0 at the Camp Nou against Barcelona, and questioned again after the defeat by Setien’s Villarreal, Real are not enough, or rather, not consistently convincing. However, recent history points to the great role of motivation in the game of the Royal Club, as well as to the fact that we must never, under any circumstances, underestimate them.Carlo Ancelotti, who ‘flirts’ with the Brazilian national team, has long been on the other side of good and evil. He is doing well at Real, but despite repeating that he has a contract until 2024, nothing terrible will happen even if he leaves. These days, incredibly but truly, he is accused of the same thing as Zidane: managing the dressing room but not the game. Carletto did not remain silent. After addressing this issue several times at the press conference, he finally wanted to remove all doubts once again.”I’m a fantastic manager, but that’s not all. We work with this team. Because if we win Copa del Rey, it will mean that we have won all possible trophies in just two years. Some clubs don’t manage to do that in their entire existence”.He told his former captain, Paolo Maldini, that he would see him on June 10, Ancelotti’s birthday, in Istanbul. For at least one of them to reverse the unfortunate history of 2005. As for Real’s previous season, he emphasized (once again) the motivation. And against Chelsea, he promised attacking football – like recently against Barcelona.##EDITORS_CHOICE##All players are ready except Ferland Mendy. We already know that there will be no experiments. Courtois in goal, in defense Militao and Alaba, Carvajal at right back, and after his excellent performance against Barcelona, probably Camavinga at left back. Modric and Kroos, Valverde, then Vinicius and Benzema, possibly Rodrygo.The only headache for Carletto is the recent scandal after the game against Villarreal, when Fede Valverde, after allegedly insulting the player of the Yellow Submarine, Alex Baena, waited for him in the parking lot of the stadium and hit him with his fist. “Luckily” for Real is that the incident happened outside the field. However, it is not yet known how Valverde psychologically copes with the pressure.As for Chelsea, the Spanish media point out that the moment is by no means favorable. Frank Lampard managed just one game – against Wolverhampton – and lost. Both he himself and the club management know that he needs much more time, and there is no time. Moreover, it is unlikely that he will even stay longer than the end of this season.600,000,000 euros were spent on a project that is not going to pick up the pace this season. Currently, the Blues have 39 points, they are in 11th place in the table, with only 29 goals in 30 rounds, which is the worst result in the last hundred years. After the departure of Graham Potter, Lampard was by no means the first option. Marca states that Zidane did not answer them, Nagelsmann did – that he wants to rest for a year. Mauricio Pochettino – that he had other plans, and Luis Enrique – the most enthusiastic of all – did not understand how the structure of the club and bringing in players works. They say, however, that he was very ready to meet Real.In their next six matches, Chelsea will play Real Madrid twice, Manchester United and Arsenal.😬😬😬 pic.twitter.com/SLcaGyat94— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 8, 2023 The good news for Lampard is that he has all the players available – N’Golo Kante, Thiago Silva and Mason Mount are back. One of them, however, is the most interesting to the Spanish public. Chelsea seem to like Joao Felix. And Atletico definitely flourished without him. The red and whites are keeping their fingers crossed that they score a goal in Real’s net, and thus at the same time deal a blow to their eternal rival and raise their price on the market in order to sell him better in the summer.Finally, the press on the peninsula warns: the English may not be good in the domestic championship, but they have been quite effective in the Champions League so far. They have exceptional players on their payroll, the only question is organization and faith in themselves.However, Real are, as always, the favorite.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEQuarter-final, first legTuesdayMan.City – Bayern 3-0 (1-0)/Rodri 27, SIlva 70, Haaland 76/Benfica – Inter 0-2 (0-0)/Barella 51, Lukaku 82 pen/Wednesday22:00: (1.80) Real Madrid (3.60) Chelsea (5.10)22:00: (2.90) Milan (3.10) Napoli (2.80)***odds are subject to change***
