Chelsea without Lukaku, Real Madrid with a change in defence. What line-ups will they field for the quarter-final rematch?

Real Madrid versus Chelsea, a clash of two titans. Last year’s Champions League winner against the most successful team in the competition. Going into the rematch, Los Blancos are in a better position, having won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. What line-ups will both teams field?

Real Madrid

For Real Madrid there is practically nothing to change, the line-up will remain the same except for one detail. Due to yellow cards, stopper Eder Militao will not be able to play, so one of the captains, Nacho Fernández, will replace him in the midfield with Alaba.

At left-back, there was a question mark with Ferland Mendy, who picked up an injury from the first leg and did not start against Getafe at the weekend. However, he has recovered for the rematch and will start against Chelsea.

The midfield and attack will remain unchanged from the first game. The famous CKM trio (Casemiro – Kroos – Modric) will be completed by Federico Valverde, who is key with his energy and running. The Uruguayan midfielder will move on the right wing and help out the central formation. The dreaded duo of Vinícius – Benzema will start in attack.

Carlo Ancelotti made four changes at the weekend against Getafe, sparing Carvajal, Mendy, Kroos and Modric, who didn’t even feature in the game.

Real Madrid’s likely line-up

Courtois
Carvajal – Nacho – Alaba – Mendy
Kroos – Casemiro – Modric
Valverde – Benzema – Vinícius

Chelsea

There may be more changes at Chelsea. Thomas Tuchel was very angry with his performance in the first leg, so theoretically we could expect some storming of the line-up. He made some rather cosmic adjustments at the weekend against Southampton, but it did produce a result, Chelsea thrashed Saints 6: 0.

Timo Werner, who didn’t even get a minute against Real, scored twice, as did Marcos Alonso, who also only sat on the bench in the Champions League. Other goals were scored by Mason Mount (2) and Kai Havertz.

The question mark is with Cesar Azpilicueta, who is unlikely to start. Real Madrid will certainly not be troubled by Romelu Lukaku, who did not travel to Madrid at all due to a hamstring injury.

Chelsea’s likely line-up

Mendy
James – Christensen – Silva – Rüdiger – Alonso
Kanté – Kovacic
Mount – Havertz – Pulisic

Source: UEFA, Marca