Real Madrid vs Chelsea LIVE: Result and reaction from Champions League quarter-final as Blues struggle in Madrid

Real Madrid defeated Chelsea in their Champions League quarter-final first leg and take a two goal cushion into the second leg at Stamford Bridge next week.

A simple move halfway through the first half saw Dani Carvajal chip the ball into Vinicius Jr who forced a sharp save out of Kepa Arrizabalaga only for serial goalscorer Karim Benzema to pop up and tap home the rebound to send the hosts ahead.

Chelsea attempted to force themselves into the match but Ben Chilwell’s red card early in the second half left them at a huge disadvantage.

More sloppy play from a corner allowed Marco Asensio to double Real’s lead and leave the struggling Blues with a mountain to climb next time out.

Relive all the action as Real Madrid host Chelsea in the Champions League:

Real Madrid vs Chelsea - Live updates

• Real Madrid defeat Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final first leg after Ben Chilwell’s red card

• Ten-man Chelsea escape with hope after a Champions League lesson by Real Madrid

• 90+2’ CHANCE! - Benzema heads over the crossbar in the closing minutes (RMA 2-0 CHE)

• 74’ GOAL! - Asensio comes off the bench to add a second (RMA 2-0 CHE)

• 57’ RED CARD! - Chilwell is dismissed for bringing down Rodrygo (RMA 1-0 CHE)

• 48’ CHANCE! - Modric curls one over the top of the crossbar (RMA 1-0 CHE)

• 21’ GOAL! - Benzema taps in a rebounded save to put Real in front (RMA 1-0 CHE)

• 2’ CHANCE! - Courtois keeps out Felix’s counter-attacking effort (RMA 0-0 CHE)

Real Madrid CF 2 - 0 Chelsea FC

Ten-man Chelsea escape with hope after a Champions League lesson by Real Madrid

22:10 , Mike Jones

A scoreline that could have been much worse, but from a match that fully showed how emphatically superior Real Madrid were.

Chelsea may well have seen a 2-0 deficit as some way respectable before this game, given everything that has happened for both of these clubs in the last year, but the reality is they are going to have to overcome a lot more than that. Frank Lampard will no doubt point to how they were two goals down to Napoli in that season-turning tie back in 2011-12 but this isn’t 2012 and Real Madrid very much are not that Napoli.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side looked very much the champions of Europe here. That might make the scale of the defeat feel respectable for Chelsea, and the sort of performance where they will talk of pride in the effort, but they were chasing a far better team all night. It was a lesson in so many senses.

Madrid looked like they treated it as if they were on the schoolyard.

The main threat seems like it might be complacency, but even that feels far-fetched given Chelsea went yet another game without scoring.

Ten-man Chelsea escape with some hope after a Champions League lesson by Real Madrid

FT Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea

22:08 , Mike Jones

FT Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea

22:06 , Mike Jones

Vinícius Junior has been named the Player of the Match with Uefa’s Technical Observer Panel saying:

“He was the outstanding individual threat for Real Madrid. Chelsea had a plan to stop him but his consistency, intensity and energy during the game shone through.

“He provided two assists and was the difference in yet another game at Champions League level.”

Full-time: Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea

21:54 , Mike Jones

90+5 mins: Mason Mount has a late chance to claw one back for Chelsea but Antonio Rudiger - his former teammate - denies him with a last ditch block.

The full-time whistle goes and Real Madrid win the game. They have a two goal cushion to bring to Stamford Bridge but a dogged effort over the final 30 minutes has kept Chelsea in with a chance of reaching the next round.

Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea

21:52 , Mike Jones

90+2 mins: Chance! David Alaba sprints in behind down the left wing and collects a threaded pass that splits Chelsea’s defence. He lifts a cross into the box and forces a fingertip save out of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The goalkeeper pushes the ball back into the middle where Karim Benzema nods a quick effort over the crossbar!

Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea

21:50 , Mike Jones

90 mins: Five minutes of added time to play.

Chelsea need to stay switched on during stoppage time, a late goal here could end their chances of reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea

21:47 , Mike Jones

86 mins: Dani Carvajal picks up a yellow card after dragging Marc Cucurella to the deck. The Real defender is frustrated by not being awarded a free kick of his own.

Chelsea have hung on well. They’ve two goals down but it’s been a decent response from them since Ben Chilwell’s sending off.

Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea

21:45 , Mike Jones

83 mins: Aurelien Tchouameni gets a run out for a few minutes having replaced Toni Kroos for Real Madrid. The host’s bench is so strong and all their substitutions so far could easily have started this game.

Seven minutes or so to play.

Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea

21:40 , Mike Jones

80 mins: 10 minutes to go at the Bernabeu. Frank Lampard’s changes seem to have brought Chelsea slightly more control though Real Madrid are not really trying to push for a third goal.

Dani Ceballos comes on to replace Luka Modric for the hosts.

Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea

21:37 , Mike Jones

77 mins: Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount are sent onto the pitch to replace Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante. It’s a brave move from Frank Lampard as Chelsea cannot allow themselves to concede another goal.

Though difficult it is possible to come from two goals down to progress through a second leg but trying to overcome a three goal deficit would need a miracle performance.

GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea (Asensio, 74’)⚽️

21:34 , Mike Jones

74 mins: That’s that for this match and possibly even the tie.

Chelsea concede a corner that Real Madrid play short. Toni Kroos guides the ball into the box for Vinicius Jr who pulls it back to Marco Asensio.

The substitute sidefoots a first time effort at goal and beats the outstretched hands of Kepa Arrizabalaga. Real Madrid double their lead.

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

21:30 , Mike Jones

72 mins: Marco Asensio and Antonio Rudiger are both introduced by Carlo Ancelotti. Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo both go off.

A Reece James corner for Chelsea is swung straight onto the head of Rudiger whose first touch is a headed clearance.

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

21:28 , Mike Jones

69 mins: Chelsea are getting overrun in midfield when they try to play it out from the back. Luka Modric nicks the ball back and slips a pass into the box for Rodrygo.

Chalobah comes across and shoves the Real forward off the ball before Kepa Arrizabalaga drops low to scoop it up.

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

21:25 , Mike Jones

66 mins: Frank Lampard now makes his changes and brings on Trevoh Chalobah and Kai Havertz. Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix are the two men replaced.

Karim Benzema’s goal is the only thing separating the two teams.

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

21:24 , Mike Jones

63 mins: Close! Reece James slips allowing Vinicius Jr to carry the ball down the left wing. He cuts into the box before backheeling the ball to Eduardo Camavinga.

Camavinga laces one at goal but doesn’t catch it properly and smokes his effort wide of the target.

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

21:21 , Mike Jones

60 mins: Chelsea are now in damage limitation mode. They need to get through the next 30 minutes without conceding too many goals and make sure they’re still in the match for the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Frank Lampard is preparing more changes after that red card.

Red card! Ben Chilwell is off!

21:19 , Mike Jones

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

57 mins: Things are going from bad to worse for Chelsea. A simple ball up the pitch from Real Madrid drops to Rodrygo after he turns away from Marc Cucurella.

Ben Chilwell tries to recover and yanks Rodrygo down on the edge of the box. He’s the last defender though and the referee has no choice but to pull out the red card!

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

21:14 , Mike Jones

53 mins: Frank Lampard is the first manager to look to the bench and brings on Marc Cucurella to replace Kalidou Koulibaly.

Enzo Fernandez then switches the ball over to Reece James on the right wing but he’s got nowhere to go and has to send the ball back inside or risk losing possession.

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

21:11 , Mike Jones

48 mins: Chance! Chelsea fall to sleep as Vinicius Jr breezes around Reece James before sliding the ball into the penalty area for Luka Modric.

Modric arrives behind the back-tracking defenders and shoots first time but lifts his curling effort up and over the crossbar!

Second half: Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

21:04 , Mike Jones

Real Madrid get the match restarted at the Bernabeu. There’s been no changes from either manager so it’s as you were for both teams.

Is there a way back into this match for Chelsea or will Madrid drive home their advantage?

HT Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

21:00 , Mike Jones

Real Madrid have recorded eight shots on target in this match; the joint-most that Chelsea have faced in the first half of a Uefa Champions League game on record (since 2003/04)

HT Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

20:57 , Mike Jones

Karim Benzema has scored 20 goals against English opponents in the Uefa Champions League, with only Lionel Messi scoring more (27).

HT Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

20:54 , Mike Jones

Half-time: Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

20:48 , Mike Jones

45 mins: Real Madrid take a slender lead into the half-time break as the home side took control of this quarter-final tie.

Chelsea are hanging in their but will need to increase their attacking qualities if they want to get back into this game.

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

20:47 , Mike Jones

42 mins: Federico Valverde hasn’t scored in nine games for Real Madrid and looks hungry for a goal tonight. He fires another effort at goal but sends this one straight into the arms of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

20:43 , Mike Jones

37 mins: Luka Modric whips a corner kick into the box for Real Madrid and the ball comes to David Alaba. He turns a shot towards goal but Kepa Arrizabalaga keeps it out.

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

20:39 , Mike Jones

34 mins: Reece James bombs forward on the right wing and tries to make something happen for Chelsea. He drives at Eduardo Camavinga and goes past the left-back before pulling a pass into the six-yard box.

Raheem Sterling is up with him but the ball comes too close to Thibaut Courtois who smothers it.

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

20:36 , Mike Jones

28 mins: That Benzema goal has really settled Real Madrid who now seem increasingly confident in possession and are maintaining a better shape across the midfield.

Chelsea are struggling to regain the ball at present.

Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

20:29 , Mike Jones

25 mins: Chelsea almost respond through Raheem Sterling after he’s picked out by Reece James. Sterling shifts into space and pokes a shot at goal only to be denied by a low stop from Thibaut Courtois.

Madrid then sweep up the pitch and play the ball out ot Vinicius Jr. He takes on Fofana once again and dribbles into the box before chipping the ball into the six-yard area.

It may or may not be heading in but Thiago Silva takes no chances and boots it away from his own goalline.

GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea (Benzema, 21’)⚽️

20:25 , Mike Jones

21 mins: Real Madrid take the lead!

The ball comes across to Dani Carvajal who’s pushing up the pitch. He chips the ball into the box and picks out Vinicius Jr who is leaning on Wesley Fofana.

Vinicius touches it down and forces and sprawling save out of Kepa Arrizabalaga but Karim Benzema is on hand to tap home the rebound!

Real Madrid 0-0 Chelsea

20:19 , Mike Jones

17 mins: Fofana has a nibble at Vinicius Jr as the winger looks to dribble the ball through Chelsea’s penalty area. Vinicius goes down looking for a penalty but the referee isn’t interested.

Federico Valverde then recovers the ball as Chelsea try to pass it out and smokes a shot from range well wide of the target.

The effort gets the crowd excited though.

Real Madrid 0-0 Chelsea

20:17 , Mike Jones

14 mins: Benzema drifts into space inside the Chelsea penalty area and is slipped the ball on the left side. He shoots first time and tries to beat Kepa Arrizabalaga at the near post but the goalkeeper has the gap covered and clings onto the ball.

This has been a decent match up so far. Real dominating possession and Chelsea looking threatening on the break.

Real Madrid 0-0 Chelsea

20:14 , Mike Jones

11 mins: Karim Benzema drops deep to receive the ball then plays it on to get Real Madrid moving forward down the right side.

Dani Carvajal and Rodrygo combine to bring the ball to the edge of the box before a square pass returns the ball to Madrid’s captain.

His first shot of the night comes from range but Thiago Silva is well positioned to block the effort.

Real Madrid 0-0 Chelsea

20:10 , Mike Jones

8 mins: Eduardo Camavinga quickly joins Wesley Fofana in the book after a mistimed tackle from the makeshift left-back brings down Raheem Sterling over to the side of Real Madrid’s penalty area.

Ben Chilwell whips the free kick into the box but fizzes the cross over the top of the crossbar. A wasted effort.

Real Madrid 0-0 Chelsea

20:08 , Mike Jones

5 mins: After a couple of decent counter-attacks Chelsea push slightly higher up the pitch. A threaded pass goes past Reece James and lands at the feet of Vinicius Jr.

He flicks the ball past Wesley Fofana who then takes out the winger and earns himself the first yellow card of the game.

Real Madrid 0-0 Chelsea

20:05 , Mike Jones

2 mins: Chance! Chelsea have set up with two quick forwards in Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling with the intention to hurt Real Madrid on the counter-attack.

It almost works immediately as a long pass comes up to Felix who drives towards the box. A back-tracking Eder Militao forces him wide but he gets off a shot and forces a low stop out of Thibaut Courtois at the near post.

Kick off: Real Madrid 0-0 Chelsea

20:04 , Mike Jones

Chelsea get the match started and send the ball back to Wesley Fofana. They try to knock it around the defence but Real Madrid quickly gain possession and take control.

Rodrygo receives a pass from Eder Militao and dances into the box where he’s tackled by Mateo Kovacic who pokes the ball to Ben Chilwell and the wingback completes the clearance.

Real Madrid vs Chelsea

19:58 , Mike Jones

Here come the teams.

There is an air of anticipation about this one. All the pundits and feelings say it should be an easy win for Real Madrid but there is something about European nights that make the improbable possible.

Can Chelsea handle everything Madrid throw at them and somehow pull off a spectacular win?

Frank Lampard says Europe offers Chelsea a welcome break from domestic struggles

19:51 , Mike Jones

The Champions League will offer Frank Lampard’s Chelsea a chance to escape from “a place we don’t want to be” when they face Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Chelsea’s interim coach was referring to the team’s position in the bottom half of the Premier League table after they failed to score in any of their last three league outings, with the Champions League offering their only hope of salvaging a wretched season.

In the past Europe has offered respite during difficult domestic seasons, as happened in 2012 when the Blues – managed by interim boss Roberto Di Matteo – were crowned Champions League winners at the same time as finishing sixth in the league.

Di Matteo, who spent five seasons as a player at Chelsea, took over from Andre Villas-Boas when the Portuguese coach was sacked in February, and led the team to a stunning with against Barcelona in the semi-final before beating Bayern Munich in the final.

Lampard was asked about the similarities between the club’s current situation and that season, when a former Stamford Bridge favourite took the manager’s job whilst the team floundered and pulled off an unlikely European success.

Frank Lampard says Europe offers Chelsea a welcome break from domestic struggles

Lampard on why Kai Havertz isn’t starting

19:46 , Mike Jones

Frank Lampard on opted to start João Félix and Raheem Sterling ahead of leading scorer Kai Havertz this evening and explained why he made that decision:

“It wasn’t an easy choice for me. It’s a game where the output is going to be big, on and off the ball. There will be changes in-game. People in those energetic positions will have to come in and help the team.”

Will Ancelotti return to Chelsea?

19:41 , Mike Jones

Carlo Ancelotti is well known to his opponents tonight. The Italian led Chelsea to a Premier League and FA Cup double in 2009/10 as part of a brilliant managerial career.

He has won league titles in all five of Europe’s top leagues - England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Now in his second spell at Real Madrid, he is chasing a fifth Champions League crown as a manager having picked up his fourth last year with Real.

Should he fail to win the Champions League with Madrid again this season, he could find himself on the chopping block which may set up a potential return to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Pre-match thoughts from Frank Lampard

19:36 , Mike Jones

Chelsea’s caretaker boss, Frank Lampard, spoke to BT Sport ahead of kick off saying: “The balance of the team feels that we have to match the Real Madrid midfield, who have got three world-class players in there.

“I felt that we’re strong in that area of the pitch. Going with Raheem [Sterling] and João [Felix] up front, they have great counter-attacking abilities; they’ve got speed, can handle the ball and can get us up the pitch.”

Real Madrid vs Chelsea

19:31 , Mike Jones

Real Madrid and Chelsea had met in only three fixtures before 2020 – in two Uefa finals which were both won by Chelsea.

The second of those contests was the 1998 Uefa Super Cup in Monaco, when a Gustavo Poyet goal seven minutes from time at the Stade Louis II gave Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup holders Chelsea a 1-0 victory against Madrid, who had qualified by winning the Uefa Champions League.

The English club had also come out on top in the 1971 European Cup Winners’ Cup final against Madrid in Piraeus. The first game finished 1-1, Peter Osgood’s 56th-minute goal at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium cancelled out in the final minute by Ignacio Zoco.

Two days later in a replay at the same stadium, first-half goals from John Dempsey and Osgood again earned Chelsea their first European trophy despite Sebastián Fleitas pulling one back for Madrid 15 minutes from time.

Real Madrid vs Chelsea

19:26 , Mike Jones

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea were 3-1 aggregate winners against Zinédine Zidane’s Real Madrid in the 2020/21 semi-finals.

Goals from Timo Werner and Mason Mount secured a 2-0 second-leg victory at Stamford Bridge after the first leg in Spain had finished 1-1, Christian Pulisic’s 14th-minute opener for the visitors was cancelled out by Karim Benzema 15 minutes later.

Who awaits in the semi-finals?

19:21 , Mike Jones

The Champions League semi-final draw was done at the same time as the quarter-finals so the teams already know who they’ll face next if they make it that far.

The winner of Real Madrid vs Chelsea will face Manchester City or Bayern Munich but that will most likely be City after their 3-0 first leg win last night.

AC Milan or Napoli could face an all-Italian semi-final after Inter Milan’s 2-0 win at Benfica.

Chelsea spent £600m and the best goalscorer they signed was the manager

19:16 , Mike Jones

It is exactly a year since Chelsea visited the Bernabeu. It is 365 days since one of the great displays of doomed heroics in their history. Same place, another time. Real Madrid ultimately illustrated why they are Europe’s comeback kings but only after a stunning fightback from Chelsea. They went 3-0 up in the Bernabeu. Now the architect of it, Thomas Tuchel, is gone, along with two of the scorers, Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner. The other one, Mason Mount, could be gone this summer.

But the differences extend beyond the names and faces. After three goals in the Bernabeu, Chelsea have now gone three games under three different managers without scoring. It is a strange sort of hat-trick, but one to sum up Chelsea’s season. The club who have spent more than anyone else in football had over two transfer windows now have 14 goals in their last 22 games. Karim Benzema has six goals in April to Chelsea’s none, 19 since 30 December to their 12. A reunion 12 months on may not feel a fair contest.

At least, after spending some £600m in a remarkable recruitment drive, Chelsea can call upon the services of a prolific scorer in the Spanish capital. Not Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose Clasico brace in Madrid last year is as irrelevant as his Premier League and Bundesliga Golden Boots and career total of 304 goals after being omitted from their European squad, but a scorer in a Champions League final. Admittedly, Frank Lampard is a 44-year-old caretaker manager now, rather than the most prolific midfielder of his generation. But after bringing in a host of players with a marked aversion to putting the ball in the net, Todd Boehly has finally hired someone who did so on a record 211 occasions for Chelsea.

Chelsea spent £600m and the best goalscorer they signed was the manager

Real Madrid vs Chelsea

19:11 , Mike Jones

The two sides met at the same stage of last season’s competition with Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid winning 5-4 on aggregate.

The Spanish side won the first leg 3-1 at Stamford Bridge with Karim Benzema scoring twice in the first half before Kai Havertz halved the Chelsea deficit five minutes before the break. Benzema then completed his hat-trick in the first minute of the second period.

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea came back strongly at the Santiago Bernabéu thanks to goals from Mason Mount and Antonio Rudiger.

They levelled the tie before Timo Werner gave the Blues the aggregate lead with 15 minutes left to play. Rodrygo’s 80th-minute reply forced extra time, where Benzema netted a decisive strike in the 96th minute.

Real Madrid vs Chelsea

19:06 , Mike Jones

Real Madrid are looking to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the 11th time in 13 seasons, while Chelsea have appeared in the last four eight times but only once in the last eight campaigns.

Madrid have won six of their eight games in this season’s competition (with one draw and one defeat) while Chelsea have recorded five victories and two defeats – both losses coming away from home.

Real Madrid vs Chelsea

19:01 , Mike Jones

Real Madrid and Chelsea, the last two winners of the Champions League, meet in the knockout rounds for the third season running as their quarter-final kicks off at the Bernabéu.

Each side has enjoyed recent success against the other en route to taking the trophy; Madrid edged through a remarkable last-eight meeting last season on their way to claiming their 14th European Cup, while Chelsea’s 2020/21 triumph included a semi-final elimination of the Spanish side.

Frank Lampard hits back at James Corden rumours after taking Chelsea job

18:56 , Mike Jones

Frank Lampard has rubbished claims Chelsea owner Todd Boehly appointed him as interim manager after a recommendation from James Corden.

Lampard was reappointed Blues boss to the surprise of many last week and reports suggested Corden, who is friendly with Boehly, persuaded the American billionaire owner to bring back the club’s record goalscorer to the dugout.

Corden, a West Ham fan, has hosted American talk show The Late Late Show since 2015 and was seen at Stamford Bridge with Boehly last October.

Frank Lampard hits back at James Corden rumours after reappointment as Chelsea boss

Real Madrid vs Chelsea team changes

18:51 , Mike Jones

Carlo Ancelotti makes six changes to the Real Madrid side that lost to Villarreal on Saturday. He brings back Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao into the defence whilst stacking the midfield with experience and talent. Federico Valverde, Edouardo Camavinga, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos all return.

There are three changes for Frank Lampard’s Chelsea. He sets the Blues up in a 3-5-2 formation and brings Thiago Silva into the back line in place of Marc Cucurella. N’Golo Kante starts in midfield alongside Mateo Kovacic and Enzo Fernandez whilst Ben Chilwell will provide momentum as the left wingback.

Chelsea can find solace in Champions League

18:48 , Mike Jones

"The Premier League is one of the greatest challenges in world football, and those challenges have obviously taken us to a place we don’t want to be as Chelsea," said Frank Lampard when speaking about Chelsea’s struggles this season.

"I think the Champions League sometimes offers you a bit of escapism from that - a different speed of game, knockout football, those things can all contribute to getting different success in the same season.

"There’s pressure on both teams due to the size of both clubs. Are Real Madrid favourites? Yes. [But] there’s no better carrot in football than trying to prove people wrong.

"I think that’s a nice challenge for us. I’m not worried about that, in terms of pressure. Football at this level is pressure and if you can’t handle it, you’re not a big club or big player."

Chelsea line-up

18:44 , Mike Jones

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga; Fofana, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly; James, Kante, Kovacic, Fernandez, Chilwell; Sterling, Felix

Lampard’s history with Ancelotti

18:43 , Mike Jones

Frank Lampard will be aiming to outwit one of his former managers this evening.

He featured in 83 of Carlo Ancelotti’s 109 matches in charge of Chelsea and only Didier Drogba (50) scored more goals for the Blues under the Italian head coach than Lampard’s tally of 40.

27 of those goals came in Ancelotti’s first campaign in charge of the Blues in 2009/10.

Ancelotti on Lampard

18:39 , Mike Jones

"I hope that Lampard is able to do a fantastic job with them," said Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti when asked about Frank Lampard’s appointment as caretaker manager.

"He has 20 years’ less experience [than me], but that will not change what will happen in the game.

"He was a fantastic player, extraordinary, he knows very well what can happen in these games but experience, in these matches, I don’t think counts for much.

"He arrived at the club a week ago, with a lot of players that he already knew. I think he’ll do well in the time that he’s at Chelsea."

Chelsea arrive at the Bernabeu

18:34 , Mike Jones

The Blues have arrived at the stadium ahead of tonight’s massive quarter-final clash with Real Madrid. Can they cause an upset later on?

Ancelotti is sad about Chelsea’s form this season

18:29 , Mike Jones

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti says he is "sad" about Chelsea’s form this season as he prepares to face his former side in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Ancelotti managed the Blues from 2009 to 2011 and won the Premier League and FA Cup whilst at Stamford Bridge.

"I am sad, yes," said Ancelotti. "I have a fantastic memory of this club, of the people that are still working there. I’m a supporter of Chelsea, of course, because I spent two really nice years there."

Real Madrid line-up

18:24 , Mike Jones

Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba; Valverde, Camavinga, Modric, Kroos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr

Lampard on managing in the Champions League

18:22 , Mike Jones

"I’ve been fortunate enough to manage in the Champions League for two seasons," said Chelsea caretaker boss Frank Lampard when asked about how it feels to be leading Chelsea once again.

"As a player, it was always the special competition, so to be here as a manager - particularly when a week ago today I didn’t know I’d be here - is a huge honour, and a big part of my thought process of taking on the challenge here.

"It’s an amazing challenge for me personally as well as obviously for us as a team and a club. I’m really looking forward to the occasion myself."

Real Madrid are everything Todd Boehly’s Chelsea want to be

18:17 , Mike Jones

In the initial interviews for Chelsea managers, there was one concern among the club’s hierarchy that became apparent with a few of the candidates. That was the nagging feeling that they were prioritising going to Real Madrid if Carlo Ancelotti leaves in the summer, and may even have been using Stamford Bridge interest to instigate moves. It is difficult to deny the allure of the Bernabeu, and that includes what the defending European champions will look like for the future, before you even consider all that grand history.

Such a stature also points to how Madrid continue to defy the economic realities of the game. It’s all the more impressive since the expectation was that they would be another continental giant left behind by the Premier League’s wealth. The truth is they still have, at least in terms of pure finance, but the key has been how successfully they have adapted to that. It is a lesson for the game, and especially for Wednesday night’s Champions League opposition.

When the current Chelsea owners were surveying football in order to make plans for what the club would look like, an obvious example was Liverpool. Co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali felt they could recreate a better-resourced version in London, with all the advantages of the capital. That would be to sign all the best developing talent, and fashion a great team out of it for the long term.

Real Madrid are everything Todd Boehly’s Chelsea want to be

Real Madrid vs Chelsea prediction

18:12 , Mike Jones

Real Madrid should take control of this quarter-final tie with a strong home win after resting several of their first team stars for the defeat to Villarreal last Saturday.

Frank Lampard’s return to the Chelsea dugout failed to inspire an immediate response from the Chelsea players and against a disciplined and determined Real they should find things difficult tonight.

Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea.

Real Madrid vs Chelsea predicted line-ups

18:07 , Mike Jones

Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Modric, Camavinga, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.

Chelsea XI: Kepa; James, Fofana, Koulibaly, Chilwell; Fernandez, Kante, Kovacic; Sterling, Havertz, Felix

What is the early team news?

18:02 , Mike Jones

Carlo Ancelotti elected to rest a number of first-choice players as Real Madrid slipped to a defeat to Villarreal in weekend La Liga action, but Luka Modric and Toni Kroos should return for this first leg. Ferland Mendy is still recovering from a calf issue. Villarreal winger Álex Baena has made a formal report after an alleged assault by Federico Valverde after that 3-2 win, though as things stand the Real Madrid and Uruguay midfielder will be able to feature.

Chelsea are likely to have N’Golo Kante back amongst things after the Frenchman was absent for the Wolves loss, though Mason Mount’s niggly injury could rule him out. Thiago Silva has been back in training but this fixture may come too soon for the defender.

How to watch Real Madrid vs Chelsea

17:57 , Mike Jones

The first leg between Real Madrid and Chelsea is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Wednesday 12 April at the Bernabeu in Madrid.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the Champions League quarter final live on BT Sport 1, with coverage from 7pm BST. Subscribers can stream the game via the BT Sport app or online player.

Real Madrid vs Chelsea

15:42 , Mike Jones

Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Champions League quarter-final action.

Real Madrid look to continue their quest for back-to-back Champions League titles as they host Chelsea in the first leg of this knockout tie. Los Blancos defeated Liverpool 6-2 on aggregate in the previous round and will look to take a strong step towards the semi-finals by beating the Blues this evening.

Chelsea meanwhile have struggled all season. The sacking of Graham Potter means Frank Lampard will take charge of the club until the end of the season and he has the task of guiding the underperforming Blues past the current Champions League holders.

Lampard’s men are heavy underdogs for this game but Chelsea have a historically strong record against Real Madrid. Could they possibly cause an upset tonight?

Follow all the team news, lineups and updates as the Champions League knockout rounds continue.