Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Tom Phillips

Real Madrid vs Chelsea prediction: Karim Benzema can frustrate Thomas Tuchel's side

Chelsea return to Spain once again in the Champions League as they face Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

The Blues are 23/10 with Betfred to win in Spain while Real Madrid are the favourites at 11/8 and a draw is 11/5.

Travelling away in the first leg has its perks - especially when you can come home with an away goal to have an upper-hand in the return leg.

Despite both clubs consistently qualifying for European competitions, this will be the fourth meeting between the two sides - their last meting was back in 1998 in the UEFA Super Cup which the Blues won 1-0.

In fact, Real Madrid have faced Chelsea more often than any other side in all competitions without winning in their entire history - an impressive line but considering they have only played each other three times and have not met in over 20 years it does not provide enough insight.

But this will be Thomas Tuchel's biggest task as Chelsea boss and if he can get one over Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid then he will definitely be high up in Roman Abramovich's good books.

It will be a tough task though.

Tips

  • Karim Benzema to score anytime - 5/4
  • Over 2.5 goals - 5/4
  • Real Madrid to win and both teams to score - 4/1

18+ | Gamble responsibly | begambleaware.org | Odds subject to change

Zidane will be looking to Karim Benzema to deliver another big home performance in the Champions League.

While the Frenchman failed to find the net against Liverpool in both legs, he has scored five times in eight appearances in Europe's top competition and will be relied heavily as he leads Madrid's attack.

His league form is equally impressive too scoring in all but three La Liga matches since February so him to score anytime at 5/4 seems a fair price.

Tuchel's side may be a little goal shy at the moment but that might change when they play at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.

Under the German, Chelsea have finished 18 matches under 2.5 goals from since appointing the German coach.

However, Madrid have finished three of their five home matches in Europe above 3.5 goals - including a 3-1 against Liverpool in the quarter-finals.

So we could be in for a few goals tonight - so I'm backing over 2.5 goals at 5/4.

Defences might be an issue for Madrid at home too so both teams to score at evens is worth considering too.

It may be the more open approach Zidane likes to deploy but Chelsea could get that crucial away goal considering of the hosts four home wins in Europe they have only picked up one clean sheet which was against Borussia Monchengladbach in their last group stage.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.