Champions League
Apr 18, 2023 8.00pm
0
2
HT : 0 0
FT Stamford Bridge
  • goal Rodrygo 58'
  • goal Rodrygo 80'

Team News: Conor Gallagher, Kai Havertz start for Chelsea against Real Madrid

Gallagher, Havertz start for Chelsea against Real Madrid

Conor Gallagher and Kai Havertz will form the Chelsea attack for Tuesday's Champions League fixture with Real Madrid.

The Blues head into the second leg of their quarter-final tie with the defending champions trailing 2-0 on aggregate after defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu last week.

However, caretaker manager Frank Lampard has opted to name a highly-defensive starting XI with Havertz the only recognised forward in the team.

Gallagher will seemingly provide support as the most attack-minded of four central midfielders, with Reece James and Marc Cucurella operating as wing-backs.

Based on the players selected, it appears that Lampard has reverted to a back three, with Trevoh Chalobah taking the spot of Kalidou Koulibaly who was injured in the first leg.

Joao Felix is a notable inclusion on the substitutes' bench, as is Mykhaylo Mudryk who may have expected to start after supplying the assist for Chelsea's goal versus Brighton & Hove Albion three days ago.

There is not a single defender present among the replacements, the aim seemingly being to keep the match tight until the second half before introducing more flair players.

As for Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti has named the same starting lineup which began the opening fixture in Spain.

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga; W. Fofana, Silva, Chalobah; James, Kovacic, Fernandez, Kante, Cucurella; Gallagher; Havertz

Subs: Mendy, Bettinelli, Pulisic, Felix, Loftus-Cheek, Mudryk, Sterling, Mount, Zakaria, Ziyech

Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Camavinga; Kroos, Modric, Valverde; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr

Subs: Lunin, Lopez, Vallejo, Nacho, Hazard, Asensio, Odriozola, Vazquez, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Rudiger, Mariano

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