The blue team receives Real Madrid with confidence, keeping news about the former Atletico Madrid player off the front pages for the moment.
Chelsea and Real Madrid meet at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday with a seat in the Champions League semi finals at stake. Frank Lampard’s side aims to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg played at the Bernabéu, and the lineup choices add a new twist to the fixture, as Joao Félix does not start this time around.
All the details of Chelsea versus Real Madrid in the Champions League 2022-2023 are explored in this preview.
Why Joao Félix is not starting for Chelsea in the first leg of the 2022-23 Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid, and why he could come on as a substitute in the return match
In this match the decision to omit Joao Félix from the starting eleven was notable. The team sheet features Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, with Reece James, Fofana, Thiago Silva, and Chalobah in defensive roles. Cucurella is deployed on the flank, while Enzo Fernández operates in midfield alongside Kanté, Kovacic, Gallagher, and Havertz. This setup signals a clear plan to control the tempo and protect against Madrid’s pace on the break, while still offering attacking threat from the wings and through the middle.
Many pundits anticipated Félix would be a starter after his involvement in the first leg in Madrid. Lampard’s tactical selection suggests a preference for a compact, disciplined approach away from home, with the possibility that Félix and Sterling may enter the fray later if the game opens up or if fresh impetus is needed to break through the Madrid defense. The decision underscores the manager’s willingness to rotate personnel in pursuit of a positive result, while keeping potential impact players available on the bench for bursts of energy or to exploit specific moments in the match.
Key questions surround whether Chelsea can reproduce the intensity from the Bernabéu, turn pressure into chances, and convert those chances into goals. The clash promises a chess match in which Chelsea seeks to stifle Madrid’s forwards and gradually impose their own rhythm, while Madrid looks to protect their lead and punish any gaps with precision counterattacks. The tactical balance of the two sides will likely hinge on who can win the second ball, maintain compact lines, and capitalize on set plays when opportunities arise.
Coverage and reaction from fans and analysts alike focus on the strategic depth of Lampard’s plan. The starting lineup reflects a blend of defensive solidity and midfield control, aiming to blunt Madrid’s attack while maintaining creativity through Havertz and the midfield quartet. Chelsea will need to convert possession into high-quality chances and avoid conceding early, a mistake that could tilt the balance against them in a high-stakes European night at home.
As the match unfolds, attention will also fall on the substitutes and how quickly Félix and Sterling can influence the game if brought on. The ability to adjust during the 90 minutes, to switch from a more defensive posture to an attacking approach when necessary, could be the deciding factor in whether Chelsea can overturn the aggregate score and advance to the next round. The dynamic between starting XI decisions and late substitutions often defines who advances in a knockout tie of this magnitude.