Chelsea with half an eye on Liverpool and Real Madrid for semifinals

The Chelsea squad is likely doing some light recovery training today mixed with some match preview and match prep for the FA Cup semifinal against Manchester City. The Blues also advanced in Champions League, so the Chelsea squad will surely have half an eye on Liverpool and Real Madrid’s second leg.

On paper, Liverpool has a mountain to climb against a Spanish side. You have probably heard that one before. Real Madrid holds the aggregate lead with three goals to Liverpool’s one away goal. To make matters worse for Liverpool, their scoring record at Anfield has been shockingly abysmal since the fortress fell. They finally managed to score not one but two home goals against Aston Villa this past weekend, bringing their total to just five total in 2021. They will need at least two to advance, provided they keep Real Madrid scoreless. A single Real Madrid goal will require Liverpool to get three to force extra time and four to advance outright.

It isn’t ideal for Liverpool but they tend to come out when they have their backs against the wall. It is surprising but not unheard of for the reigning champion to be on the outside of top four looking in. They still have a league route to top four, but Champions League might be their most likely route given their form. It would take a mini miracle, but backs against the wall that may be their only choice.

Real Madrid’s path is much more straight forward. They pretty much just have to defend with some level of competency to hold Liverpool off and advance. They are by and far the most likely team to advance and, if Thomas Tuchel’s staff is smart, the team that the Blues have already begun compiling match footage for.

Chelsea hasn’t faced Real Madrid competitively in ages and it would certainly be an exciting fixture. It would also pit Chelsea against a Champions League specialist one step away from the final which is less than ideal. While it would be nice to see Eden Hazard once again, even if it is to (ironically) try to crush his Champions League dreams, Real Madrid would be the most difficult opponent of the two.

At the same time, however, Real Madrid will have a split attention that Liverpool wouldn’t. Somehow, Real Madrid is very much in the title race with Atletico Madrid. It is tight enough that there can be no slip ups so a Champions League fixture, as important as it will be for them, may cause them to split their resources more than they’d like. Chelsea is in a similar boat with the top four race, but Fulham is the match in between the Champions League fixtures. The Blues can get the job done in one leg and hold on in the other as Real Madrid tries to juggle their commitments.

Keep an eye on this match today, but nine times out of 10 the team in the semifinals will be Real Madrid. That will be an interesting fixture for sure, but Chelsea shouldn’t be coming this far just to participate.