Second leg drama for Real Madrid against Chelsea
Real Madrid remains the team every opponent fears. Champions in spirit and experience, they carry a calm edge into the fiercest matches. The 2022/2023 Champions League run intensified the path to The Fifteenth, with a quarter-final duel against Chelsea that reflects two very different periods for the two clubs. The first leg is staged at Real Madrid’s home ground, a stage that has often amplified their aura in Europe.
Carlo Ancelotti’s squad entered this phase without the familiar home advantage often associated with a near‑perfect season. The draw setting kept the competition unstable: on one side a heavyweight like Manchester City and on the other, an Italian‑mused route featuring Benfica, Inter, and Milan or Napoli in later rounds. Real Madrid had already made the most of their round of 16, turning the tie around at Anfield and earning a favorable position through a strong first leg performance that set up a commanding home return.
Third meeting in a row with Chelsea
Chelsea has become a frequent challenger to Real Madrid in recent campaigns. They clashed in the 2020/2021 semi-finals with Madrid advancing after a 1-1 draw in Madrid and a 2-0 victory in London, advance sealed by goals from Werner and Mount. The group then met again in the quarter-finals the following season, closing out the 2021/2022 tie with Madrid showing the better of the two legs when the race concluded.
Chelsea against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals
This edition saw Madrid claim a decisive edge in the head-to-head between the managers. On the road, Benzema’s early influence spoke loudly, a rapid 45‑minute spell yielding a hat-trick that underscored Madrid’s control. Havertz answered for Chelsea with a late strike, while the return leg at Stamford Bridge featured a balance of climbs and reversals. Chelsea, then amid a period of institutional upheaval following a leadership change, managed to overturn the deficit with goals from Rüdiger and Werner. Still, Real Madrid’s strength at their own stadium mostly determined the outcome across the tie.
When Madrid seemed frail, a clever move by Modric and Rodrygo changed the game. Rodrygo collected a deft pass from Modric, firing a precise shot that sparked extra time. Those familiar with Real Madrid’s European history anticipated a dramatic comeback, and Benzema delivered in extra time with a composed finish that sealed the victory for Madrid.
Chelsea: 650 million in transfers
Chelsea’s approach under new ownership marked a clear shift. Since Todd Boehly took charge in July 2022, the club has pursued a high-spending model, injecting substantial funds into the squad. The English side emerged as a major spender in European football, with a reported outlay around 650 million across the summer and winter windows. The price tag covered a wide range of players, from Mudryk to Enzo Fernández and other high-profile names like Felix who arrived on loan to strengthen the squad for key competitions.
Madrid paid attention to Chelsea’s evolving roster as a benchmark of the changing landscape in European football. The added options across attack and midfield required Madrid to adapt and respond with strategic depth and consistency on match days.
How is Chelsea playing?
The transfer splurge did not immediately translate into a seamless improvement on the pitch. Chelsea, under Graham Potter, faced a difficult season in league play, sitting outside the traditional European places and chasing a form that had to be rebuilt. The team has often relied on a 3-4-3 structure, with dynamic wingers and full-backs driving the band of pressure. Reece James and Ben Chilwell have been pivotal on the flanks, delivering width and intensity in bursts that test even the best defenses.
What defines Chelsea’s current approach is speed and high-intensity pressing after a moment to regroup. In goal, Kepa has alternated with Mendy, reflecting the rotation common in top clubs. The defense features Fofana and Koulibaly as stabilizing forces, with Cucurella acting as a flexible option across the backline. The round of 16 showed Chelsea’s ability to press and disrupt, especially against Dortmund at Stamford Bridge.
In midfield, Kovacic pairs with Enzo Fernández, forming a compact duo capable of bulldozing space and providing dynamic ball progression. Behind this engine, a supporting cast includes Havertz, Pulisic, Sterling, Mount, Mudryk, Joao Felix, Ziyech, and Gallagher, a wide pool of attacking options that keep defenses guessing. The absence of a traditional number nine after Lukaku and Werner’s exits has nudged the squad to innovate and rely on collective play and fluid positions rather than a single focal striker.