Chelsea has a very slim chance of getting to the semifinal of the UEFA Champions League, but they have to go through Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid first. 2-0 down from the first leg leaves Frank Lampard’s Blues with an uphill battle as they welcome the men in white to Stamford Bridge. Overcoming the deficit from the first leg can only be possible if the Blues can stop Madrid, and they can only do that if they can nullify these three players:
3 Real Madrid stars Chelsea must stop
Vinicius Jr.
Fondly referred to as ‘Vini’ by fans, the 22-year-old has really come into his own, with this being his second season in a row of hitting at least 15 goals and 15 assists in all competitions. He is on course to register 20 goals and 20 assists in all competitions for another season in a row. Vinicius Jr. has completed more dribbles than any other player in the UCL (36) as well as the most progressive carries (60).
The Brazil international has attempted 25 take-ons in three games against Liverpool and CFC in the tournament this campaign and has completed 13 of them. This includes 4/6 completed takeons against Chelsea in the first leg. The Madrid superstar had a superb game against Wesley Fofana and Reece James. These two players would have to make sure that the young Blancos doesn’t have a joy ride in the second leg as well. At nine goals and four assists so far in the UCL, Vinicius Jr. has been key for the Spanish giants this season and this game would be decided by how poorly Lampard’s men can force him to perform.
Karim Benzema
Benzema has taken the third most shots on target (14) and the fourth most shots on target per 90 (2.6) of all players in the Champions League this season. The Madrid talismann has not been as hot as he was last season, especially in the Champions League, but he is still a very deadly striker. He scored two goals and setup a third in their 5-2 demolition of Liverpool at Anfield. The 35-year-old Frenchman is one of the reasons Vinicius Jr. is so effective, as his position requires centerbacks to pay close attention to him, this means you cannot dedicate as many men to stopping either Benzema or Vinicious Jr. as any manager would want.
Benzema scored in both games against the Reds and in the first leg of this tie. His movement, strength and technique are impeccable and he is extremely effective in situations where his opponents are in disarray. Defensive errors will be punished when the former Lyon sriker is on the pitch. The Blues must ensure they keep the Madrid captain as quiet as possible if they’re going to get anything out out of this game, let alone advancing through to the semifinals.
Toni Kroos
In Kroos, CFC will be coming up, again, against the most intelligent passer in world football. Kroos has averaged at least a 93% passing accuracy in the past seven league seasons. This in and off itself, is not the most incredible thing, as incredible as it is, but it’s the fact that Kroos has averaged at least 80% long passing accuracy in those seasons consistently. That is downright ridiculous. The German is the art of passing. The 33-year-old central midfielder is outrageous with how good his passing is. To put it in context, the midfielder has led in the main European series in long balls completed per game over the past seven Champions league seasons (7.6 on average), but he has done this at an outrageous rate of 87% average accuracy across those seasons.
Los Blancos ability to control as much games as they do is thanks to Kroos. He decides how the game goes. His role for Ancelotti’s men in the first leg of the tie was exactly that, which is why they controlled the game as easily as they did. Kroos leads all players in this competition for passes into the final third (99) and progressive passes (81). In the reverse fixture the World Cup winner didn’t even need to attempt a single long ball while making 17 passes into the final third. He also made 11 progressive passes and all these from central midfield. He literally dictated the tempo of the game. It would not be ridiculous to suggest that Lampard should dedicate one player to stop Kroos from doing what he wants.