Three things to look for in Chelsea vs Real Madrid UCL semifinal

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MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 27 Eden Hazard of Real Madrid battles for possession with Andreas Christensen of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final First Leg match between Real Madrid and Chelsea FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on April 27, 2021 in Madrid, 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 Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /

Chelsea hosts Real Madrid in the second leg of a deadlocked UEFA Champions League semifinal on Wednesday. The eyes of the world will be on Stamford Bridge as the winner of Manchester City versus Paris Saint-Germain will be waiting for an opponent in the final. The Blues escaped the first leg in Madrid with a narrow advantage—an all-important away goal—but there is still a lot of time left in the tie for things to change. Thomas Tuchel and Zinedine Zidane will both have their men ready to leave it all on the pitch as the match could be decided by the finest of margins.

There is a lot on the line in this one, to say the least, so let’s dive into the most notable aspects of this contest. Here are three things to look for in the second leg of Chelsea versus Real Madrid:

1. Eden Hazard and his heir apparent

Oh the things I would do to have the Bridge rocking at full capacity for the homecoming of the legendary No. 10. Eden Hazard’s return to west London is something he’s dreamed about since his departure. At the time, he surely wouldn’t have imagined an empty stadium, but that’s what he’ll return to. The Belgian’s time at Chelsea can be described in one word: magical. Blues fans know what he can do with a ball at his feet, and that’s what scares them.

Hazard will be squaring off against his former club for just the second time since he moved to Real Madrid. The first was, obviously, in last week’s bout. The winger made a brief appearance off the bench as he continued his recovery from a lengthy injury battle. However, he’ll likely be named to the starting line-up in the away leg after an impressive showing in La Liga at the weekend. A spot in the starting XI for Hazard would give him the time and freedom to make things happen. On his day, Madrid’s No. 7 is a top five player in the world, capable of creating something out of nothing against the best of the best. If his form from the weekend is anything to go by, Hazard is feeling himself.

The former Chelsea No. 10 is the most threatening player for Los Blancos, but it is his heir apparent that takes on that roll for the Blues. Christian Pulisic has built a reputation as a big game player over the years for Dortmund and Chelsea. He backed that up last Tuesday when he calmly slotted the ball home after making a run in behind Real Madrid’s defense and gliding past a diving Thibaut Courtois to give the Blues the lead inside 20 minutes. Still just 22, Pulisic is considered to be the new kid on the block. Nevertheless, he’s got all the makings of a superstar. His choice in numbers and positional similarity with Hazard will make the comparisons inescapable throughout his career in west London. Therefore, the only option he has is to embrace them and live up to the hype.

Hazard and Pulisic both possess the ability to take over matches and produce spectacular moments for their respective clubs. The individual who channels his inner brilliance could very well decide this tie. Will it be Chelsea’s former No. 10 or the Blues’ own Captain America?

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