Chelsea vs Real Madrid probable line-ups: Ramos, Mendy, Valverde and Hazard all set to start

Actualizado 05/05/2021 – 17:55

Chelsea host Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final tie between the two sides on Wednesday night, with Los Blancos needing to score if they are to advance to the final in Istanbul.

Thomas Tuchel’s side netted an elusive away goal in the Spanish capital last week as the two teams drew 1-1, with Karim Benzema cancelling out Christian Pulisic’s opener.

Zinedine Zidane is without Raphael Varane for Wednesday’s second leg, but he has been able to welcome back Sergio Ramos, Ferland Mendy and Fede Valverde, all of whom are tipped to be in the starting line-up.

Another name that is tipped to find himself in the XI is Eden Hazard, who is making his first return to Chelsea since leaving the club in the summer of 2019.

After starting in the 2-0 win against Osasuna last weekend, following back-to-back substitute appearances, Zidane believes that he is ready to partner Benzema in attack.

The formation that Zidane chooses could go some way to determining which players start, but it is thought that he will revert to a four-man defence, as he did against Osasuna.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are expected to keep the same formation – a 3-4-2-1 – and name the same team that began the match in Madrid last week.

Chelsea’s probable starting line-up: Edouard Mendy; Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger; Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Ben Chilwell; Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic; Timo Werner.

Real Madrid’s probable starting line-up: Thibaut Courtois; Nacho Fernandez, Eder Militao, Sergio Ramos, Ferland Mendy; Fede Valverde, Casemiro, Toni Kroos Luka Modric; Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard.