Chelsea and Real Madrid combined XI: Blues in ascendency after first leg
Those who picked Chelsea as the second favorite in their UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg could be forgiven, given the European pedigree of its opponents. Real Madrid is European royalty and matches against Los Blancos on the continental stage are never easy. As such, many viewers must’ve been perplexed to see the Blues completely dominated their opponents in the first 30′ of the match. They scored a goal, created several chances, and with a little bit of composure in the final third, could’ve even finished off the tie before Real had a goal attempt.
Alas, that wasn’t to be the case. Chelsea scored just the one goal on the night and later allowed Real Madrid to score one itself. As a result, the tie hangs in balance ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge, even though Chelsea does have the away goal advantage. However, if Thomas Tuchel’s side proved anything in its performance in Madrid, it is that it is no pushover. The Blues can match their opponents toe-to-toe and have what it takes to make it to their third Champions League final.
Ahead of the semifinal return leg, we take a look at what a combined XI from the two teams looks like. As usual, the players selected are those eligible for the match with their form, performance in the first leg and legacy all taken into account. The formation of choice for this team is 3-4-3.
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid
The tunnel cam showed Thibaut Courtois joking with Olivier Giroud at halftime. The Belgian undervalued the save he made early on from Timo Werner, claiming he just threw his foot toward the ball. In reality, that one save could prove to be the most important action of the entire tie. Courtois’ selection in the combined XI is straightforward. Despite how Chelsea fans may feel about him, the Belgian is among the very best in his position in the world. He will be hoping to put in another solid performance on his return to the stadium he once called home.
Centreback: Andreas Christensen, Chelsea
One of the players who has benefitted from Tuchel’s arrival at Stamford Bridge is Andreas Christensen. The Dane is not the same nervy youngster fans had gotten used to seeing over the last two years. He is confident, both on and off the ball, and has been spotless for the Blues in defense. Despite initially starring as the central defender in a three-man back line, the 25-year-old has found a new home on the right side. He was impressive in that position during the first leg and is likely to get the nod once more for the return fixture.
Centreback: Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid
Despite the continued absence of fans, the camera continuously panned to the stands of Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano during the semifinal first leg. Sergio Ramos looked like a particularly anxious figure in the seats as he lived through every moment that happened on the pitch from afar. Real Madrid will be delighted that its captain no longer needs to sit amongst the spectators. He is back among the squad after recovering from an injury and, as a consequence, straight into the combined XI.
Centreback: Antonio Rudiger, Chelsea
Antonio Rudiger’s timely return from injury is a massive boost for Chelsea ahead of the second leg. The German has been among the Blues’ best players since Tuchel arrived at the Bridge. Despite being predominantly right-footed, the centreback has made the left of the Chelsea defense his own. His marauding runs forward add an extra dimension to the team’s attack and are a sight to behold. Meanwhile, he is robust defensively and is a part of an incredibly solid unit under Tuchel.