Business trip to Spain: Chelsea vs Real Madrid preview – part II

With Cuthbert having the chance to rest her body against the Foxes, there is no telling what kind of game the Scottish international is going to have the second time around against a team she made a statement in the middle of the park last time out. Noting Toril’s typical line up at Kingsmeadow, Chelsea should be expecting to go up against a low block that features a congested midfield that simply wants to capitalize on the potential errors of the Blues’ backline.

Patient players like Lauren James, and Jessie Fleming completely changed the match following their inclusion in the second half, finally unlocking the Real Madrid defense after 67 minutes of scoreless football. Real’s weakness around set-pieces hurt it in its previous defeat, conceding the first goal of the match to Sophie Ingle off of a corner, and if Toril does not find a way to limit Mille Bright’s influence during corners, it could be a long match for los Blancos.

Winning the ball on first contact in the air, and firing in as many crosses into dangerous areas as possible have been an essential aspect to Chelsea’s winning formula. In the first meeting in London, CFC won four more arial duels, and fired in 12 more crosses than their counterpart. With the likes of Guro Reiten, and Erin Cuthbert putting in quality crosses at a consistent rate, the Spaniards have to decipher up a way to make the Blues operate in the middle of the park in the final third.