The Real Madrid looks for Wednesday its fourth final of Champions in six years for which he will have to work hard at Stamford Bridge against the Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final round, after 1-1 in the first leg.
The tie in the first leg gives the locals a small advantage against Real Madrid, who will have no choice but to go for goals at the London Coliseum.
Encouraged after the 2-0 league victory over Osasuna on Saturday, which keeps them alive in the fight for LaLiga, Real Madrid face a crucial game in a season that has gone from less to more.
Few imagined at the beginning of the season that the Merengue team, weighed down by countless injuries, would be fighting for the League and opting for a new Champions final, after touching the elimination in the group stage of the continental tournament.
“Miracle, nothing. This is work, just work, believing in what we are doing, preparing things and working, “said the French coach at a press conference on Friday.
Injuries have been the real ordeal in this campaign for the meringues, who recover their captain for the match Sergio Ramos and to the left side Ferland mendy.
His return could not be more providential, since Zidane will not be able to count on Raphael Varane, who suffered “an injury to the right abductor muscles” against Osasuna.
Zidane also recovers the Uruguayan Faith Valverde, after overcoming covid-19.
Ahead, Zidane could opt for Eden Hazard, prepared after having given him a few minutes against Osasuna and last Tuesday against Chelsea in the first leg, together with the untouchable Karim Benzema.
‘Prepared’
Kanté- Benzema, duelo estelar en el Chelsea vs. Real Madrid. Gráfico: Laurence SAUBADU, Vincent LEFAI, Sophie RAMIS AFP
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“We feel prepared for a great fight and I am sure that we will need a great performance because Real Madrid is going to make us suffer,” said the Chelsea manager. Thomas Tuchel.
The ‘Blues’ who are looking for their second Champions League, after the one they won in 2012, also have their own problems with injuries.
Tuchel hopes to have ready for the meeting Antonio Rudiger, who left the first leg against Real Madrid with discomfort after a blow to the face.
“I think he will play with a mask” against Real Madrid, Tuchel told the media of his club, who sees it more difficult to be able to have the Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, already absent in the first leg due to a muscular problem, from which he would have relapsed.
The German Chelsea coach, finalist in the Champions League last year with PSG, will have Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, N’Golo Kanté and Christian Pulisic ready for the match, key men who were rested against Fulham at the end of week.
Probable teams
Chelsea: Mendy; Thiago Silva, Christensen, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kanté, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Werner, Pulisic.
Coach: Thomas Tuchel (ALE)
Real Madrid: Courtois; Militao, Sergio Ramos, Nacho; Fede Valverde, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Mendy; Benzema, Vinicius, Hazard.
Coach: Zinedine Zidane (FRA)
By: AFP
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