Real Madrid vs Chelsea FC | Preview
Real Madrid lock horns with current Champions League holders Chelsea in the second leg of the UCL quarter-finals
Real Madrid lock horns with current Champions League holders Chelsea in the second leg of the UCL quarter-finals
After producing an awful performance against French giants Paris-Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, Real Madrid return to the Santiago Bernabéu tomorrow (19th February) to attempt and get back to winning ways. Los Blancos will square up against relegation-threatened Deportivo Alavés in their twenty-fifth matchday of the season.
Real Madrid failed to score a goal in their last two games and a ‘cowardice’ display in the Champions League have left Madridistas agitated with Ancelotti’s tactics and team selection. Ancelotti was caught in the act of tactical failure at the Parc des Princes by Florentino Perez, and speculation has since been rampant that Perez has put direct pressure on the Italian boss to turn things around soon to avoid the ‘sack’.
Alavés has not been in good form recently as they currently stand 18th in the league table, four points away from safety. With a win in their recent fixture versus Valencia (2-1), Babazorros El Glorioso has their confidence high to snatch all the three points from the Bernabeu and make two consecutive wins, the last which they achieved in October of 2021.
REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS AHEAD OF ALAVES CLASH
Real Madrid travelled with a fully fit squad to Paris and things are expected to remain unchanged on the squad list against the basque outfit. Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. are expected to start and use this ‘comfortable’ fixture to end their goal-droughts.
There had been questions over Mendy’s fitness during the previous game and Marcelo or Miguel can be expected to start over him.
The fatigue was clear on the faces of Modric, Kroos and Casemiro in the midfield against the French side and Ancelotti may use this fixture to make heavy rotations and find the potential of his squad depth.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
PREDICTIONS
Real Madrid may seem in a little bit of trouble concerning form but they should be able to dispose of Alaves comfortably. Attackers Benzema and Vini are desperate to find a goal that may steer Ancelotti’s men to a victory.
REAL MADRID 3-1 DEPORTIVO ALAVES
Real Madrid face Cádiz with their starting XI affected by COVID-19. It seems that Eden Hazard will get his chance to regain Ancelotti’s confidence.
Real Madrid face Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk in their 4th matchday in the UEFA Champions League. Real currently stand 2nd in their group with Sheriff Tiraspol leading the pack.
On our 2nd matchday of the season, Real Madrid will be traveling to Levante to face them at the Estadi Ciudad de València on Sunday.
Zidane’s men will be looking to secure all 3 points from the Andalucians in order to keep the pressure on Atlético Madrid who are two points ahead of Madrid with only 2 games left in the race for the La Liga title
Chelsea host Real Madrid in the second round of the UEFA Champions League Semi Finals. The 1st leg between the two ended in a stalemate 1-1 result in Madrid which left it completely “all to play for” in the 2nd leg.
Los Blancos will aspire to get their La Liga title charge back on track when they travel to Cadiz for Wednesday night’s fixture.
Real Madrid will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in La Liga when they continue their 2020-21 campaign away to a struggling Osasuna on Saturday night.