Real Madrid vs Chelsea: Reigning champs face uphill battle at home of all-time UCL winners

Topics: TV Schedules, TV Listings, Real Madrid, Chelsea, UEFA Champions League

Chelsea will face an uphill battle to remain in the Champions League following a 3-1 first leg defeat to Real Madrid.

Preview: Real Madrid vs Chelsea

After a thrilling first leg match, Real Madrid and Chelsea will renew acquaintances on Tuesday evening as the Blues travel to the Stantiago Bernabeu to face Los Blancos on their home turf. The hosts hold a 3-1 advantage from the first leg thanks to the heroics of Karim Benzema, who made history as not only the first player to score a hat-trick against Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge, but also finally ended Real Madrid's frustrating hoodoo that had seen them fail to beat the Blues in any of their past five attempts.

It indeed was an entertaining game for viewers, as Benzema's brace had given Real Madrid a comfortable 2-0 lead inside the first 30 minutes, before Kai Havertz pulled one back for Chelsea to give the Blues some hopes of a comeback shortly before half-time. However, a shocking mix-up between Edouard Mendy and Antonio Rudiger basically gifted Benzema his third goal of the game, and after that, a clearly demoralized Chelsea were unable to find a way back into the match. Romelu Lukaku in particular earned the ire of Blues fans as well as the English media after missing two gilt-edged chances following his introduction as a sub that could certainly have altered the tide of the match.

That marked two back to back losses for Thomas Tuchel's side, and seven goals conceded in just the span of two games following their humiliating 4-1 home defeat to Brentford prior to the clash with Real Madrid. However, Chelsea have since bounced back, taking out their frustrations on a very poor Southampton side as they cruised to a 6-0 win. While that will look encouraging, Southampton are nowhere at the level of Real Madrid, and the reigning Champions League winners will need to do a total 360 if they want to have any shot of ensuring their hopes of retaining the title come to fruition.

Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti's troops warmed up for Tuesday's evening clash by picking up a solid 2-0 win over Getafe. Although Benzema wasn't on the score-sheet and in fact, was subbed off during the second half to keep him fresh for this game, Los Blancos still got the job done to ensure they remain eight points clear at the top of the La Liga table. With the domestic title pretty much in their hands, Real Madrid, whose 13 Champions League titles make them the most successful side in this competition, will be firmly focused on continental affairs as they look to grace the finals after a four year absence.

Will Chelsea be able to successfully overturn this deficit to continue their Champions League journey? Or will Real Madrid, spearheaded by the brilliant Benzema, put them to the sword once again and march on towards the semi-finals - and perhaps beyond?

Team news: Real Madrid vs Chelsea

Real Madrid: Defender Eder Militao will have to miss this game due to a ban, while Eden Hazard again misses out on a reunion with his former side due to injury. Isco and Luka Jovic, are both out, but it's not likely that either would have started anyway if fit given that they have been mostly reduced to bit-part roles in the team.

Chelsea: Romelu Lukaku has been ruled out of the upcoming trip to Madrid due to a recent injury, while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ben Chilwell remain out. However, veteran defender and skipper Cesar Azpilicueta has now recovered from COVID-19 and will be part of the traveling party to Madrid.

Match facts: Real Madrid vs Chelsea

Real Madrid have progressed from nine of their previous 10 ties in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages when winning the first leg away from home
Meanwhile, Chelsea will need to equal their biggest margin of victory away from home (a 3-1 win over Liverpool) if they want to have any chance of progressing
English teams have struggled at the Santiago Bernabeu in European competition, where no team, to date, has ever won by more than one goal
Los Blancos have lost just three of their last 12 games at this ground against English sides (W6 D3)
Carlo Ancelotti is aiming to qualify for the semi-finals of the UCL for the eighth time in his career, which will equal the eight so far set by Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho
Benzema has scored 11 goals in the UCL so far - which is the most ever achieved by a French player