Real Madrid-Chelsea, the lines: Zidane does without Asensio, Tuchel prefers Mount to Havertz
Back at the last moment in the Real Madrid group, Toni Kroos is aligned from the outset against Chelsea, who will bet ahead of Timo Werner and Mason Mount, in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League (this Tuesday at 9 p.m., live on RMC Sport 1).
Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid, the only coach to have won it three times in a row, can play a fourth Champions League final in five years. For this, the Spanish giant must keep out of his way a fierce Chelsea team, transformed by Thomas Tuchel. And it will begin this Tuesday evening, on the occasion of the semi-final first leg between the two teams, at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium. The German manager, in contention to reach a second consecutive final with two different teams, is the king of the rebound this year.
Finalist of the last Champions League with Paris then ousted at the end of December, Tuchel intends to repeat the feat with the Blues, expected in full. Only Kovacic is missing. It is therefore a team close to that which dominated West Ham (1-0) last weekend which will begin, in 3-4-3. Christensen is present in the three-way defense, alongside Thiago Silva and Antonio Rüdiger. Cesar Azpilicueta starts as a straight piston. Offensively, Mason Mount is preferred to Kai Havertz. The French Kurt Zouma and Olivier Giroud are on the bench.
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Vinicius to support Benzema
Even if captain Sergio Ramos and left-back Ferland Mendy are still recovering, Zinedine Zidane hopes to extend his incredible streak of 14 wins in 15 double knockout matches in C1. The French have recorded some major returns this week (Varane, Carvajal, Modric, Hazard), but the Belgian, still fair, is on the bench.
Back in the group at the best of times, the German Toni Kroos resumed his place in the starting XI, returning to the much feared middle trident, with Casemiro and Luka Modric. On the front of the attack, Zinedine Zidane can count on the indispensable Karim Benzema and the speed of Vinicius, in a good pass currently. The Brazilian scored a very important brace against Liverpool, who threw Madrid in the first leg in the previous round. Marco Asensio is a replacement.
Real Madrid’s lineup:
Courtois – Militao, Varane, Nacho – Carvajal, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Marcelo (cap) – Benzema, Vinicius
Substitutes:
Lunin, Altube, Hazard, Asensio, Odriozola, Isco, Mariano, Rodrygo, Arribas, Blanco, Gutierrez
Chelsea’s lineup:
Ed. Mendy – Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rüdiger – Azpilicueta, Kanté, Jorginho, Chilwell – Pulisic, Werner, Mount
Substitutes:
Kepa, Caballero, Alonso, Abraham, Zouma, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Gilmour, James, Havertz, Emerson
