Chelsea and Real Madrid will strike for the first time since the 1998 Super Cup final when they meet in this season’s Champions League semi-final.
It is a clash of two sides that started the season in a convincing form but since then has managed to turn things around. Chelsea are back in the race for the top four in the Premier League, while Real are in an impressive position in the La Liga title race.
They are two sides that are quite difficult to predict, but we will take a shot at it anyway.
Real’s midfield is the best in the world Denis Doyle / Getty Images
These two sides are quite similar on paper. Both teams are solid at the back, relatively overwhelming in attack (despite Karim Benzema) and strongest in midfield.
Benzema, as one of the best strikers on the planet, can on his own honor Real – a quality that no Chelsea player has – while midfield trio Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro are simply sublime. On their day, no one on the planet can match it.
They are already on top, while Chelsea are just calculating themselves. Like Kai Havertz and Timo Werner still strike out a lot of shots, and Real have a habit of punishing sides like that. You just have to look at how effectively they kept Liverpool at bay.
A concern for Zinedine Zidane will keep her stars in shape. Everyone in Madrid seems to be susceptible to injury these days, but he will have faith in the strength of his stars to see him through.
Winner: Real Madrid
Tuchel has been excellent at Chelsea | Clive Rose / Getty Images
Thomas Tuchel has revolutionized Chelsea and gets the best out of almost all his players. He has saved Havertz’s career, turned Andreas Christensen into a superstar and even Marcos Alonso has proven his worth.
The German has created a tactic that is extremely difficult to beat and gets a perfect response from his players. For that, he deserves a pat on the back.
This is where Tuchel has the advantage over Zidane. The Real boss has dropped out with more than a few players in the squad and just seems comfortable putting his trust in a handful of players … most of whom happen to be among the best on the planet.
Zidane seems to have a way of preparing his side through all European games (something that Tuchel does not yet prove) but the Germans’ ability to get the most out of an entire group can give him the edge here. He has plenty of options, while Zidane needs his core team to get through.
In its current form, Tuchel gets the nod.
Winner: Chelsea
Chelsea have been excellent defensively Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Real seem to be in great shape, but can not avoid throwing in a catastrophic defeat every time. Defeats against Alcoyano, Athletic and Levante in January showed how vulnerable Los Blancos can be.
But since then, Real have removed almost all sides of their path, but they have still seemed a bit shaky in defense, and injuries and illnesses affecting Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez have not helped. There is a weakness in this real side that Chelsea will try to exploit.
Tuchel’s Chelsea have been a bit more inconsistent, with more draws and the odd 5-2 loss to West Brom thrown in for the record, but one thing that works to their advantage is their defensive form. Eight of Tuchel’s first 12 matches ended in Edouard Mendy’s clean sheets, and it took a Mehdi Taremi world champion to finish his perfect streak in Europe as well.
We have a team that knows how to win against a team that specializes in not losing. It’s tricky to decide, but Real’s winning drive can’t go unnoticed, and with someone like Benzema in your ranks, it’s possible to break down even the most stubborn defense.
Winner: Real Madrid
Zidane’s European record is unmatched by Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Probably the easiest section to pick a winner here. Do the words “tomorrow is a final” mean anything to you?
Despite a few struggles, Zidane rarely struggles to find a way to win this type of game. Even if Real play badly in the build-up, he can take his side to another level when it’s most important, and no one can understand how.
Chelsea have already suspended Atletico Madrid and Porto in the Champions League, but even the strongest Blues fans would admit that neither of these two sides played well enough to pose a threat. Sure, Chelsea did well to neutralize them, but that job is made easier when your opponents are not really able to do it in the first place.
Real will be ready for this one.
It will be a fantastic test for Tuchel and Chelsea, but when it comes to the possibility of winning matches like this, it’s Zidane all day.
Winner: Real Madrid.
Real should have enough for this | Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
3-1 in Real’s favor, you can probably guess which side of the fence this conclusion will be on.
Chelsea are an excellent side that have proven their pedigree – you will not get to the Champions League last four if you are not good – but they are mixing with some big boys now, and that may just be a level too far.
Real have been shaking off cobwebs from earlier in the season, and although they still do not look like world beats, they are very, very good. Maybe not win it all well, but still.
This can be a fascinating watch, but expect over two legs Real Madrid to edge it.
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