FRANK Lampard’s Chelsea travel to the Santiago Bernabeu for first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid TONIGHT – and both Thiago Silva and N'Golo Kante return for Blues.
The previous two sides to lift the Champions League meet with the winner of Manchester City and Bayern Munich lying in wait.
Both teams come into the game with the Champions League as their strong priority.
- Kick off: 8pm UK time
- TV Channel: BT Sport 1
- Stream: BT Sport App
- Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Caravajal, Militao, Alaba, Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos, Modric, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Benzema
- Chelsea XI: Kepa, James, Fofana, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly, Chilwell, Kante, Kovacic, Fernandez, Sterling, Felix
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- Anthony Chapman
Ancelotti cools Chelsea return talks
Carlo Ancelotti has been linked with a stunning return to the Bridge.
But he is adamant he will remain at Real Madrid this summer.
Ancelotti said: "Be back? No, I hope that Lampard is able to do a fantastic job with them.
"I have a fantastic memory of Chelsea. I am a supporter of the club. I won’t return there."
- Anthony Chapman
Chelsea's starting XI confirmed
Frank Lampard has released his team to face Real Madrid.
And Thiago Silva is indeed back in the side after returning from injury.
N'Golo Kante and Raheem Sterling are also included, with Kai Havertz dropping out for a 3-5-2 formation.
Chelsea: Kepa; Fofana, Silva, Koulibaly; James, Kante, Enzo, Kovacic, Chilwell; Felix, Sterling
- Anthony Chapman
Gallas dismisses Chelsea chances
Former Chelsea star William Gallas reckons his old side don't stand a chance against Real Madrid tonight.
He told Genting Casino: "Chelsea are not doing too well at the moment, they are not performing for many reasons. But in the Champions League, they have performed very well.
"Now they play Real Madrid, who are in the same situation because they cannot win La Liga. So they will put everything into the Champions League.
"I don’t think Chelsea will qualify from the tie. I don’t think it will be a heavy defeat, but even if they win at Stamford Bridge, going away to Real Madrid will be really hard."
- Anthony Chapman
Silva set for stunning return?
Thiago Silva could start tonight in a stunning return from injury.
The Brazilian has been out for six weeks on the sideline.
But early Chelsea team news on social media claims Silva has gone straight into the starting XI.
- Anthony Chapman
Lampard on Chelsea's chances
"I didn't expect to solve everything in one day [after defeat to Wolves].
"You have to have more aggression in your game, more speed and more competitive duels which go your way.
"The players need to be aware of that because without that you can't win games.
"It was interesting to see anyway, I'm here to help with that. It's not stinging criticism, I know there's a lot of talent there."
- Connor Greaves
Chelsea team news and predicted line-up
For the Blues, the match is set to come too soon for Mason Mount, Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta.
N'Golo Kante was surprisingly missing from Lampard's first squad after coming back from injury the week before, but it was a precautionary decision.
Quartet Benoit Badiashile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Noni Madueke and David Datro Fofana are not in the team's Champions League squad.
- Connor Greaves
What are the odds?
- Real Madrid to win – 8/13
- Draw – 14/5
- Chelsea to win – 9/2
To qualify:
- Real Madrid to qualify – 4/9
- Chelsea to win – 13/8
*Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes are correct at time of publication
On the last episode
Controversy, drama, suspense – you name it, the last match between Real Madrid and Chelsea had it and what a game it was!
The Blues had a mountain to climb after losing the first leg 3-1 at Stamford Bridge but goals from Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner miraculously put them in the driver's seat of the tie.
However, Madrid did what they do best by scoring two late goals through Rodrygo and Balon d'Or winner Karim Benzema which saw Thomas Tuchel's men go crashing out of the competition.
Chelsea will be determined to get revenge this time around and they'll be hoping that super Frank Lampard can be the man to steer them to victory.
But it won't be easy as Madrid just have that know-how to get the job done.
Madrid bench
Lunin, Luis Lopez, Vallejo, Nacho, Hazard, Asensio, Odriozola, Lucas V., Tchouameni, Ceballos, Rudiger, Mariano.
- Connor Greaves
Madrid starting eleven
- Connor Greaves
Big time Benzema
It is hard to look away from the duo of Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr, who tore apart Liverpool at Anfield in the last round.
Both bagged a double in the 5-2 win two months ago at Anfield, with Benzema scoring the only goal of the game in the second game in Spain.
- Connor Greaves
Fantastic Felix
Chelsea will be hoping Joao Felix will be the key to turning the tie in their favour.
The man on loan from Atletico Madrid should have extra motivation to beat his club's city rivals and he has impressed in recent weeks.
- Connor Greaves
What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?
- Real Madrid vs Chelsea will be broadcast LIVE on BT Sport 1 in the UK.
- Coverage is set to commence from 7pm UK time – a whole hour before kick-off.
- Subscription members of BT Sport can stream the entire action live via the BT Sport website or BT Sport app.
- Alternatively, SunSport will have minute-by-minute coverage of the game including build-up and post-match reaction.
Good evening and welcome to the Santiago Bernabeu
Chelsea head to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid TONIGHT
The previous two sides to lift the Champions League meet with the winner of Manchester City and Bayern Munich lying in wait.
Both teams come into the game with the Champions League their strong priorities.
Chelsea languish in 11th in the Premier League after a chaotic season of manager in and outs alongside large spending in the transfer window.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna to look forward to on May 6.
But they stand no chance of catching Barcelona at the top of LaLiga, meaning no European glory will be classed as a poor year.
Frank Lampard's first game back as Blues boss ended in a 1-0 defeat to Wolves.
Chelsea knocked out Borussia Dortmund in the last round while they were still under the stewardship of Graham Potter.
As for Real, they suffered a damaging 3-2 loss at home to Villarreal at the weekend, which leaves 13 points behind Barca.
But in Europe they have fared better, destroying Liverpool over two legs to progress to the quarter-finals of this year's Champions League as they look to make it back-to-back triumphs in the competition.
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