S
SEARCH
M
SW
Collect News Data

The big talking points ahead of Chelsea's Champions League tie with Real Madrid

:Headline: The big talking points ahead of Chelsea's Champions League tie with Real Madrid:
Mateo Kovacic has failed in his bid to shake off a hamstring problem in time to take on his former club Real.
Sports Mole

Chelsea will host Real Madrid on Wednesday night with a place in the Champions League final on the line.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the key talking points for the semi-final second leg.

Kante seeks to add Champions League to his trophy haul

Thomas Tuchel, back, hugs N'Golo Kante, front (Clive Mason/PA)

N'Golo Kante has won almost everything going in football – but the Champions League trophy continues to elude him. Now the 30-year-old France star is back to his best, and closing in on his best chance yet to win Europe's premier club competition. Premier League crowns with Leicester and Chelsea are already in the bag, and so too the World Cup with France. Kante even spurred the Blues to 2019 Europa League glory despite battling a knee problem throughout that 4-1 demolition of Arsenal in Baku. Kante can hardly add to his status in the game, but a Champions League title would certainly help.

Kovacic a big miss for Chelsea

Mateo Kovacic, pictured, will miss out for Chelsea through injury (Ian Walton/PA)

The luckless Mateo Kovacic has failed in his bid to shake off a hamstring problem in time to take on his former club Real. The Croatia star's absence will be keenly felt by the Blues, even despite the fine form of both Kante and Jorginho in defensive midfield. Boss Thomas Tuchel could easily have used all three men throughout this second leg in a bid to keep his Chelsea side razor sharp. But now the Blues must battle it out without one of the most reliable performers of an exceptional last few months.

Pulisic up against Chelsea's former number 10 Hazard

New Chelsea boss Tuchel has made no secret of the fact that Christian Pulisic taking on the Blues' number 10 shirt harbours all sorts of pressure and responsibility. Pulisic will go head-to-head with Chelsea's former number 10 again on Wednesday, as Eden Hazard makes an intriguing return to Stamford Bridge. Hazard's excellence in the coveted shirt certainly leaves Pulisic with a lot to live up to, but the USA forward has been back in top form in recent weeks. The stage will be set in west London for Chelsea's past and future to clash in the present.

Real sweating on Ramos

Real Madrid's defensive talisman Sergio Ramos missed the first leg that was drawn 1-1 through injury. The Spain stalwart is back in the Real squad for the Chelsea trip, but it remains to be seen whether the 35-year-old will be fit enough to start at Stamford Bridge. Real would most likely revert to their favoured 4-3-3 formation should Ramos start. And Blues boss Tuchel has already hinted that the best way to take on the abrasive centre-back could be through deploying Kai Havertz in the false nine role that has so suited the Germany forward in recent weeks.

body check tags ::

amp_article__446023 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-05-04 17:52:22:
html db last update - 2021-05-04 17:49:58 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Thomas Tuchel hopes Chelsea win Champions League for "top guy" N'Golo Kante
Chelsea 'considering re-signing Salah this summer'
Real Madrid 'still interested in signing Paul Pogba'
Man United 'want to sign Bellingham over Sancho'
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City34255471244780
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd331910464352967
3Leicester CityLeicester351961063432063
4Chelsea341710753312261
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham341771055441158
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs341681060382256
7Liverpool33159955391654
8Everton33157114542352
9Arsenal34147134637949
10Aston Villa331461348381048
11Leeds UnitedLeeds34145155052-247
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34119143346-1342
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle35109164058-1839
14Crystal Palace33108153456-2238
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton34813133539-437
16Southampton33107164159-1837
17Burnley3499163147-1636
18Fulham34512172545-2027
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom34511183165-3426
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3452271860-4217
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City34255471244780
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd331910464352967
3Leicester CityLeicester351961063432063
4Chelsea341710753312261
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham341771055441158
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs341681060382256
7Liverpool33159955391654
8Everton33157114542352
9Arsenal34147134637949
10Aston Villa331461348381048
11Leeds UnitedLeeds34145155052-247
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34119143346-1342
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle35109164058-1839
14Crystal Palace33108153456-2238
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton34813133539-437
16Southampton33107164159-1837
17Burnley3499163147-1636
18Fulham34512172545-2027
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom34511183165-3426
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3452271860-4217
Scroll for more - Tap for full version
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
X

We value your privacy

A part of our GDPR compliance we need to ask for your consent. We and our partners use technology such as cookies on Sports Mole to personalise content and ads, provide social media features, and analyse our traffic. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on Sports Mole.