Champions League: Calm Champions Host Unorganised Chaos

Real Madrid vs Chelsea

In one corner is one of the best managers in football history, an accomplished professional still at the height of his power.

In the other is someone who is a rookie and is now a caretaker after being dismissed from his last two roles.

The former is a wily, astute Italian; the latter widely criticised at more than one club for disorganised and leaky defences.

The fact he was a key figure in midfield when the aforementioned spent two years as his boss in the dugout in West London adds another line to this unlikely match-up.

The Champions League quarter-final has thrown up a contest between Carlo Ancelotti – four-times winner of the competition as manager – and Frank Lampard, out of work until less than week ago.

So, what happens now?

Talking Points

Well Real Madrid see off Chelsea with an array of Champions League highlights, of course.

Never mind that this is the last eight of Europe’s premier cup competition.

In terms of two clubs, the contrast is vast: one seems calm and controlled, the other chaotic.

Real Madrid may have given up on their hopes of retaining the La Liga title, but they have already claimed the European Super Cup, World Club Championship and last week reached the final of the Spanish Super Cup after thrashing Barcelona on their own turf.

Of course, the Champions League has long been the trophy the club craves most of all and Ancelotti will have his sights set on more silverware.

He led Chelsea to the Premier League and FA Cup double in 2010 and was harshly dismissed a year later after his team were runners-up in the title race.

How Chelsea would relish to be in such a position now.

Yes, they have badly missed Thiago Silva over the last few months, while the recently returned N’Golo Kante has been absent for virtually the entire campaign.

And never more has the inconsistency at Chelsea been better illustrated than in attack.

For example, Raheem Sterling – an important figure for Manchester City in their title successes last term – has four goals and two assists to his name this season in 21 matches.

But it is much more than that.

The fast-paced and short notice of Lampard’s appointment even meant Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui welcomed the now departed “Bruno Saltor and his staff” in his programme notes ahead of their 1-0 win on Saturday.

This was another contest which showed how far off the pace Chelsea are.

We wait and see whether their fortunes can change dramatically at the Bernabeu.

I cannot see it myself.

History

These sides have only met seven times in their history – four of those in the past two seasons.

That’s perhaps not a surprise given Chelsea were not regular competitors in Europe until two decades ago.

What is a surprise is that Real have only won one of those encounters.

Their first meeting came in the 1971 European Cup Winners Cup Final when the sides drew 1-1 after extra-time.

The replay two days later in Athens saw first half goals from John Dempsey and Peter Osgood guide Chelsea to a 2-1 success to lift the trophy.

When Chelsea won the competition again 27 years later, they met reigning European champions Real in the 1998 UEFA Super Cup Final – again seeing off the Spaniards to lift the silverware courtesy of a Gus Poyet goal.

Real were managed that day by Guus Hiddink who went onto manage Chelsea twice in an interim capacity.

Two seasons ago they met at the semi-final stage of this competition when a 1-1 first leg draw – their first ever meeting in the major European competition – was preceded by a 2-0 Chelsea win at Stamford Bridge when Timo Werner and Mason Mount were on target to seal an all-English final against Manchester City in which the west Londoners triumphed.

With Ancelotti at the helm by last season, Real clinched a superb Spanish and European Cup double.

That included a 3-1 quarter-final win at Stamford Bridge in which brilliant Frenchman Karim Benzema netted a hat-trick before also scoring the crucial extra-time goal in the second leg as Real won 5-4 on aggregate.

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP Champions League betting odds back the reigning champions all the way and so do I.

Real Madrid 1X2 @ 1.66 contrasts with Chelsea 1X2 @ 4.50. Likewise, Asian Handicap odds include Real -0.75 @ 1.89, -1.00 @ 2.19 and Chelsea +0.50 @ 2.31.

The 1X2 Draw is on offer @ 3.65 which shows just how unfancied the English club is.

A repeat of last season’s match in Spain – Chelsea won 3-2 but lost the tie – is available @ 90.00 with Correct Score.

Goal options abound, such as Over 2.75 @ 2.29, Total Goal 0-1 @ 3.10, 2-3 @ 1.90 and 4-6 @ 3.80.

I cannot see beyond victory for the Spanish and European champions.

 

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