Chelsea predicted lineup vs Real Madrid - Champions League
By Tom Gott
After a disastrous domestic campaign, Chelsea caretaker manager Frank Lampard knows the club's season hinges on success in the Champions League.
The Blues travel to Spain to face Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday with a real do-or-die mindset, knowing full-well that defeat here would all but destroy any remaining positivity at Stamford Bridge.
With the pressure on, here's how Lampard could set up.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-3-3)
GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga - Kepa failed to beat Real in any of his three games against Los Blancos for Athletic Club, and he's yet to face them in Chelsea colours.
RB: Reece James - James has been linked with a big-money move to Real, who'll be expecting big things from the right-back after Vinicius Junior described him as one of his toughest-ever opponents.
CB: Wesley Fofana - Fofana has never hidden his desire to play for Real and he'll be up for the challenge of impressing at the Bernabeu.
CB: Kalidou Koulibaly - Thiago Silva might just miss out through injury so Koulibaly will have to provide the experience in defence.
LB: Ben Chilwell - Chilwell is on the cusp of signing a new contract at Chelsea and a win here would be an excellent way to celebrate.
DM: Enzo Fernandez - Chelsea rushed through their deal to sign Fernandez out of fear that teams like Real Madrid would be more appealing options in the summer. A smart call in hindsight.
CM: Mateo Kovacic - It's not always easy to know which side of Kovacic you're going to get. Chelsea will need his hard work and calm head if they are to win here.
CM: N'Golo Kante - Kante terrorised Real during the 2020/21 season and he's been saved especially for this game.
RW: Raheem Sterling - Lampard talked up Sterling in the build-up to this one and will call on the Englishman's big-game experience here.
ST: Kai Havertz - With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of the squad, Lampard doesn't really have much of a choice but to persist with Havertz.
LW: Joao Felix - The loanee from the other side of Madrid should be as fired up as anyone. However, in his six appearances against Real, he's failed to find the back of the net.