Real Madrid host Chelsea at the Santiago Bernabéu in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals and Carlo Ancelotti wants no surprises. For this reason, the Italian coach has opted for the same eleven with which he thrashed Barcelona at the Camp Nou. An offensive lineup that earned him four goals against the blaugrana and qualify for the final of the Copa del Rey.
With the Belgian Thibaut Courtois indisputable under the sticks, he will be accompanied by Alaba and Militao as a central pair, with Eduardo Camavinga on the left and Dani Carvajal on the right. In the center of the field, the trident formed by Toni Kroos, the protagonist of the controversy of the last days Fede Valverde, and Luka Modric. Above, Rodrygo and Vinícius by bands and the 'killer' Karim Benzema as the most advanced man.
Ancelotti does not risk it and comes out with everything to achieve a good result for the second leg at Stamford Bridge next week (Tuesday 18, 9pm). Despite everything that has happened in recent days, Fede Valverde is among the eleven chosen by the Real Madrid coach. The Uruguayan attacked the Villarreal player Álex Baena last weekend. After losing to the Castellón team, the white footballer punched Baena in the face in the Bernabéu parking lot, when he was heading towards the team bus to leave the facilities. Valverde's entourage justified the attack by assuring that the Villarreal player had made some unfortunate statements about his wife's pregnancy and the case is now in the hands of ordinary and sports courts.
No surprises at Real Madrid, tonight it was Frank Lampard who revolutionized his eleven to visit the Bernabéu. With a defense of five, he sacrifices Havertz and comes out with Reece James on the right, Chilwell on the left and three central defenders: Fofana, Koulibaly and Thiago Silva. In midfield Kanté, Enzo and Kovacic and ahead Joao Félix and Sterling, the two men in charge of Chelsea's goals tonight.
This is Carlo Ancelotti's eleven to face Chelsea: Courtois; Carvajal, Alaba, Militao, Camavinga; Modric, Kroos, Valverde; Vinicius, Rodrygo and Benzema.
With Mendy's only loss, due to injury, Lunin, Luis López, Vallejo, Nacho, Hazard, Asensio, Odriozola, Lucas Vázquez, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Rüdiger and Mariano will be on the bench.
Lampard bets on these eleven men to look for a good result at the Bernabéu:
Kepa; Reece James, Fofana, Koulibaly, Thiago Silva, Chilwell; Kanté, Enzo, Kovacic; Joao Felix and Sterling.
On the bench: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Cucurella, Chalobah, Gallagher, Loftus-Cheek, Zkaria, Mount, Mudryk, Ziyech, Pulisic and Havertz, the sacrificed one.
