Chelsea vs Real Madrid Champions League preview: where to watch, starting line-ups, team news

Chelsea host Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday 5 May at 21:00 CET.

What happened in the first leg?

Chelsea made a thrilling start in the Spanish capital and were in front inside 15 minutes through Christian Pulišić. Karim Benzema scored a brilliant equaliser – a milestone 71st UEFA Champions League goal for the Frenchman – before the half-hour, though, to keep the tie level heading into the return match.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

Starting line-ups

Chelsea: Mendy; Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rüdiger; Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kanté, Chilwell; Havertz, Werner, Mount

Real Madrid: Courtois; Nacho, Militão, Ramos, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modrić; Vinícius, Benzema, Hazard

How they got here

Chelsea
Record: W7 D2 L1 F19 A3
Top scorer: Olivier Giroud (6)
Quarter-finals: 2-1 vs Porto
Round of 16: 3-0 vs Atlético
Group E: winners

Real Madrid
Record: W6 D3 L2 F19 A12
Top scorer: Karim Benzema (6)
Quarter-finals: 3-1 vs Liverpool
Round of 16: 4-1 vs Atalanta
Group B: winners

Form guide

Chelsea
Form: WDWDWL
Latest: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham, 01/05
Next: Chelsea vs Real Madrid, 05/05 (UEFA Champions League semi-finals, second leg)
Where they stand: 4th in Premier League, FA Cup final

Real Madrid
Form: WDDWDD
Latest: Real Madrid 2-0 Osasuna, 01/05
Next: Chelsea vs Real Madrid, 05/05 (UEFA Champions League semi-finals, second leg)
Where they stand: 2nd in Liga

Expert predictions

Jon Phipps, Chelsea reporter: An away goal has given Chelsea a narrow advantage, and another clean sheet at the weekend sets them up nicely for this tie. There are slight worries over Antonio Rüdiger and Mason Mount but if both are fit, Chelsea will be confident of finishing the job. They stifled Madrid so well in the first leg and will need to do the same again here.

Joe Walker, Real Madrid reporter: Any other side might well have been dead and buried after the first leg, but not this Madrid side. They have that inner resolve that few sides possess in this competition, and with captain Sergio Ramos back in the fold they will fancy their chances in London. Having said that, they will have to shore up the midfield and wide areas if they are to progress, and cannot afford Chelsea the kind of space they were granted last week.

View from the camps

Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea manager: "The challenge is to keep the intensity going through the whole match. It is a semi-final - the pressure is on; a knockout game, so to arrive with a level of belief and confidence is neccessary, or we will have no chance. The main lesson is that we can trust ourselves and we have the right to be in the semi-final. We deserve to be there and perform on this level. If we are at our best. It is a no-brainer to go for a win. This club is about winning."

Zinédine Zidane, Real Madrid coach: "We need to counter their strengths, their qualities and use our own weapons, too. We feel good, we’re ready, we know what has brought us this far and we’ll give our all to get to the final. We know it’s been a tough year, but we’ve fought through it. It’s May and we’re in with a chance at two trophies. We’ll give our all."