Predicting the XI's for Real Madrid and Chelsea for tonight's clash

04/12/2022

Carlo Ancelotti will be forced into only one change from last week’s victory while Thomas Tuchel should go for broke as he targets comeback… so, could Timo Werner START ? Predicted XI’s for Real Madrid and Chelsea ahead of the quarter-final second leg

Real Madrid have a 3-1 lead over Chelsea going into tonight’s second leg in Spain
Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick in London and he will lead the line again
Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to shuffle the pack, but is forced into one change
Thomas Tuchel could be bold with his line-up and start Alonso and Werner
Sportsmail looks to predict the starting XI’s for the Champions League clash

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has described tonight’s task of overturning a two-goal deficit against Real Madrid as ‘almost impossible’ – but the reigning European Champions will give it a good go.

Karim Benzema’s sumptuous hat-trick last week gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side a healthy lead going into this evening’s Champions League quarter-final second leg.

But it is not done yet, as the Blues look to stage a fightback. Ahead of the game, Sportsmail predicts the starting XI for both teams.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel goes up against Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti again tonight

Karim Benzema’s hat-trick at Chelsea last week gives Real Madrid a two-goal advantage

REAL MADRID

GOALKEEPER

Thibaut Courtois – Ex-Chelsea shotstopper was impressive in last week’s first leg, saving superbly from a Cesar Azpilicueta shot destined for the top-corner.

DEFENCE

Dani Carvajal – Spain international was rested for the weekend win against Getafe so is likely to come back into the starting XI.

Nacho – This is likely to be Ancelotti’s only enforced change. Eder Militao is suspended after picking up his third yellow card and the home-grown centre back is the obvious stand-in.

Nacho is the obvious stand-in for Eder Militao, who is suspended for this evening’s clash

David Alaba – A Champions League winner with Bayern in 2013 and 2020, the Austrian has been a mainstay at left centre back this season and his experience will be invaluable on nights like this.

Ferland Mendy – Like Carvajal on the opposite flank, the Frenchman was rested at the weekend with Marcelo deputising. Mendy near-certain to come back into the XI.

MIDFIELD

Casemiro – Brazilian defensive midfielder has been Madrid’s go-to No 6 for sometime now. Not many do the job better than him.

Luka Modric – His sheer class and composure shows no signs of waning at 36, as illustrated by his first-time assist for Benzema’s second last week.

Luka Modric’s class and composure shows no signs of waning at 36 and will start for Madrid

Toni Kroos – His partnership with Modric is so automatic now it’s not worth toying with something new. His accuracy and decision-making still at a world-class level.

Fede Valverde – Real Madrid’s Mr Versatile played on the right last week in a 4-4-2 formation. While Ancelotti favours three in midfield, he may stick with last week’s winning formula, with the Uruguayan’s work-rate vital down the flank.

ATTACK

Vinicius Jr – Brazilian missed a golden chance early on but was a constant thorn in Chelsea’s side down the left, setting up Benzema’s first.

Karim Benzema – Real Madrid’s captain is in the form of his life. He has scored two Champions League hat-tricks in a row – he couldn’t make it three, could he?

Real Madrid’s captain is in the form of his life and is on a run of Champions League hat-tricks

Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Nacho, Alaba, F Mendy, Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Benzema

CHELSEA

GOALKEEPER

Edouard Mendy – Made a costly error last week in a mix-up with Antonio Rudiger which resulted in Benzema’s third goal, but has shown since moving to Stamford Bridge that mistakes are few and far between.

DEFENCE

Cesar Azpilicueta – Was absent at the weekend due to Covid but is fully-fit according to his manager. Played at left wing-back last week but could come back into the defensive trio, replacing Andreas Christensen who failed to deal with Benzema.

Thiago Silva – Brazilian’s experience and world class know-how will be important in the cauldron of the Bernabeu tonight.

Antonio Rudiger – Sometimes erratic but often powerful, the German was equally at fault for Madrid’s third last week, and will want to make amends with a better showing here.

MIDFIELD

Reece James – With Chelsea needing to go for broke, they need their most creative outlets on the pitch from the get-go – the England international is definitely one of those.

N’Golo Kante – Man-of-the-match in Madrid last season when Chelsea won that semi-final tie. Not in the best of form but it’d be foolish not to start the stamina and legs of the World Cup winner.

Mateo Kovacic – Could replace ever-present Jorginho. Motivation will be high against his former club

Marcos Alonso – Has fallen slightly out-of-favour in the big games for Tuchel, but his well-taken goal at Southampton at the weekend shows he is a threat going forward. Be bold, and the Spaniard should start.

N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic could start together in central midfield for tonight’s clash

Marcos Alonso scored against Southampton, his attacking threat would be useful for the Blues

ATTACK

Mason Mount – Chelsea’s creative No 10 came close to a long-range beauty last week – and scored twice at the weekend. Shoo-in.

Kai Havertz – The Blues’ big-game man will definitely start this evening. Scored with a brave header last week, got a goal on Saturday too and has a history of doing it when it matters in Europe.

Timo Werner – A left-field pick, but given his two goals and menacing runs at the weekend, Chelsea should plunge for the Germany international, particularly in the absence of Romelu Lukaku.

Given his two goals and menacing runs on Saturday, Chelsea should plunge for Timo Werner

Chelsea predicted XI: E Mendy, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, James, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso, Mount, Havertz, Werner

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