Chelsea are set to host Real Madrid at Stamford for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-finals clash on Tuesday, 18 April. Last Word on Sports tries to put together a Chelsea Predicted Lineup as Frank Lampard’s side aims to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg and pull off a memorable comeback.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Real Madrid
Getting set. 🔵#UCL pic.twitter.com/Qsmjir4Y2k
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 17, 2023
How Chelsea Have Lined-up Recently
The Blues have been in disarray under the tenure of Lampard since he rejoined the club as the interim manager earlier this month. They’ve gone on to lose all their three games under him and the Englishman has chopped and changed his players quite a bit.
At this point, the only guarantee is that the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Reece James, Thiago Silva, Enzo Fernandez, N’Golo Kante and Joao Felix are favoured to start. They’ve featured quite heavily in recent weeks, even though that hasn’t really helped improve their form. That is why the manager might look to pull off something new – which might involve giving January signing Mykhailo Mudryk a start in the Champions League and also a start for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – who hasn’t started a game since January.
Chelsea Recent Form and Tactics
The Blues have played under three different managers in their last 10 games across all competitions and won 3 games, which actually includes one against Borussia Dortmund at home in the Champions League under Graham Potter – before he was sacked.
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In terms of tactics, Chelsea’s general style still appears to be trying to dominate the possession and slowly building up moves with short passing moves. They try to play the ball out of the backline and use their wing-backs to get in behind defenders to create chances, but unfortunately, nothing hasn’t really worked in Lampard’s favour since he re-joined Chelsea.
Lampard will have to bring out something different tactically to outwit someone like Carlo Ancelotti. He needs his side to be more direct and faster with their attacking moves, and more importantly, finish off whatever chances they get properly.
Chelsea Key Players
The London sides’ best players this season have been those at the backline. Silva still remains a commanding, sturdy centre-back who kept them from being totally embarrassed at Real Madrid’s home ground. Arrizabalaga is key with his clutch saves and is going into this form in good form too. January signing Fernandez is also churning out impressive performances since his move from Benfica, being an energetic figure in midfield who can also distribute the ball admirably well.
Chelsea also needs the likes of Felix and Mudryk to perform, because their qualities are well known. The Ukranian can torment defenders with his exhilarating pace and dribbling ability, but needs to improve his final product to be more consistent. Meanwhile, the Atletico Madrid loanee has to improve his own finishing skills to torment his former rival side.
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Aubameyang, who was hailed as an ‘exceptional player’ by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta last year, can actually prove to be Chelsea’s wild card. He knows how to finish chances well in the final third and has tormented Madrid in the past for Barcelona.
Chelsea Injuries to Consider
Chelsea will be missing defenders Kalidou Koulibaly and Ben Chilwell – with the centre-back sustaining a knock in the first leg and Chilwell getting sent off. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is also a doubt with a back injury, while Armando Broja is out for the rest of the season.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Reece James, Thiago Silva, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
