The Pride of London
Fansided

Chelsea three things to look for against Porto: A foot in, but a foot out

By Travis Tyler

SEVILLE, SPAIN - APRIL 07: Jesus Manuel Corona of FC Porto on the ball whilst under pressure from Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between FC Porto and Chelsea FC at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on April 07, 2021 in Seville, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
SEVILLE, SPAIN - APRIL 07: Jesus Manuel Corona of FC Porto on the ball whilst under pressure from Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between FC Porto and Chelsea FC at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on April 07, 2021 in Seville, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Chelsea’s French defender Kurt Zouma (L) vies with Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on July 22, 2020. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s French defender Kurt Zouma (L) vies with Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on July 22, 2020. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

3. One eye on Liverpool versus Real Madrid?

Chelsea plays on Tuesday, and by all accounts they should be expected to advance even with how Porto may make it. It may not be a West Brom level embarrassment, but it would still be pretty crushing to end the Champions League campaign now. By the time Wednesday comes, Chelsea will know their fate. What they won’t know yet is who they may play in a potential next round.

Liverpool versus Real Madrid is basically what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, but if that unstoppable force struggles to score and that immovable object leaves itself pretty open. Even with Real Madrid having a 3-1 lead on aggregate (Liverpool has the away goal), both sides will understand their histories at this point. Liverpool has been in worse situations and flipped the result. Real Madrid has too. And regardless of who had the 3-1 lead, this second leg was going to be the real be all end all decider.

At this point, it may be more important for Liverpool to go all out for the Champions League win. After all, it may be their best route to Champions League again next season. Real Madrid, meanwhile, always take Champions League seriously but they will have their attention divided by La Liga. Somehow, Atletico Madrid has blown their lead and Real Madrid (and somehow, the quite terrible by their standards Barcelona) are right on their heels. Madrid just won El Clasico this weekend and they can’t afford to rotate. They have the lead, but they’ll also be the most jaded of the two with the least to lose from falling out of the competition.

Tuchel’s Chelsea has already beaten Liverpool this season but it is simply hard to tell how much they change when Champions League is all they really have. The Blues haven’t played Real Madrid in any capacity in ages, but the main thing going for that side of things is how divided their attention will be regardless of their form. So long as Chelsea gets their side of things done, watch this one to get an idea as to the next round.

Next. Chelsea: In support of the Blues' toughest, Antonio Rudiger. dark

What are you looking for this round? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!

Home/Champions League