Chelsea v Real Madrid predictions: Cautious approach likely from both sides

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Chelsea v Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Draw
1pt 12-5 bet365, Betfred, BoyleSports

Karim Benzema to score at any time
1pt 21-10 Betfair, Paddy Power

Team news

Chelsea
Ben Chilwell is sidelined for the Blues, while Callum Hudson-Odoi is a doubt.

Real Madrid
Luka Jovic and Isco do not travel for the visitors, who are also without former Chelsea forward Eden Hazard.

Match preview

Neither Chelsea nor Real Madrid have had the greatest preparations for their Champions League quarter-final encounter and punters should expect both sides to approach the first leg at Stamford Bridge with an air of caution.

Uncharacteristic of the kind of football they have played under Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea succumbed to a shock 4-1 home defeat to Brentford on Saturday.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, got back to winning ways against Celta Vigo but were humbled 4-0 by Barcelona in El Clasico before the international break.

Both were concerning results but also probably blips in otherwise strong campaigns and there will be no room for complacency in London.

While this Chelsea crop know what it takes to win a Champions League title, Real Madrid are also not to be underestimated given they are 12 points clear at the top of La Liga and knocked out Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16.

They have won six of their last seven matches in all competitions, while the Blues have lost only two competitive fixtures inside 90 minutes in 2022.

It is tough to split the sides and given first legs can often be tentative affairs at this stage of the competition, the draw could offer punters the best value at 12-5.

Tuchel's typical playing style points to tighter matches more often than not and Chelsea's tally of eight draws in the Premier League this season is the highest of any team in the division's top six.

Real, meanwhile, are still finding their feet after that mauling by Barca and only edged Vigo 2-1 courtesy of two penalties and with Chelsea likely reverting to a back three for this game, goals could be at a premium for the visitors.

However, if they are to get on the scoresheet, one man is more likely than any other to bag the goal and Karim Benzema is worth chancing in the anytime goalscorer market.

Madrid are likely to be without manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has Covid, but the return of Benzema has been a huge boost with the Frenchman scoring both goals against Vigo.

His absence for El Clasico was noticeable and he pretty much won the second leg of Madrid's last-16 clash against PSG by himself with a second-half hat-trick.

Benzema has already bagged eight goals in seven matches in this campaign's Champions League, having won the competition four times in his career.

He is also the leading scorer in La Liga by some distance with 24 goals, ten more than the next highest tally, and he could be a good bet to score in a close contest.

Key stat

Karim Benzema has scored ten goals in his last six matches for Real Madrid.

Inside info

Chelsea

Penalty taker Kai Havertz/Jorginho
Free-kick wizardMason Mount
Set-piece aerial threatAntonio Rudiger
Card magnetJorginho

Real Madrid

Penalty taker Karim Benzema
Free-kick wizard Toni Kroos
Set-piece aerial threat Eder Militao
Card magnet Vinicius Junior

Not got a bet365 account? Bet £10 & get £50 in free bets

Open account offer. Minimum deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as bet credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude bet credits stake. Time limits/T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport