Real hope for ‘another magical night at Bernabeu’

For the third consecutive season, Real Madrid and Chelsea are facing off in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League. And defending champions Real Madrid will have a point to prove against The Blues in Wednesday's quarterfinal first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

Despite Chelsea's poor run of form in the Premier League, Real Madrid must be wary of the English club, who have faced Real in the knockout stages of the last two Champions League seasons and beaten them twice in four games.

It was Chelsea who landed the first blow at the semifinal stage in 2020-21, before Real responded in the quarterfinals last season. But Real lost the second leg of last season's quarterfinal at home and progressed only on aggregate following two late goals from Rodrygo and Benzema. Another interesting thing from the two sides' Champions League ties is that in the last two seasons, both times the side that progressed went on to win the UCL title.

Chelsea have only lost one of their seven games against Real Madrid in European competition and seem to have taken great pleasure on their trips to Spain, having lost one of their last nine UEFA Champions League knockout-stage matches away to Spanish opposition (W3 D5).  

And it seemed logical that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti hoped for another magical night at the Bernabeu against Chelsea, who have dropped to 11th in the Premier League after a run of poor results, and have also been knocked out of the FA Cup and League Cup, despite spending almost 300 million pounds ($373 million) on new players in January. "We suffered a lot last year," Ancelotti told reporters on Monday.

"We have to respect the team and the club, they have very good players and even if they are not in a good moment they have great motivation and will bring out the best. It's a squad of a very high level.

"The team is excited and motivated to return to the Champions League and experience another magical night at the Bernabeu. We have to take advantage of the fact that we play the first game at home."

Chelsea's current predicament also saw them sack coach Graham Potter at the start of April and hire their former coach Frank Lampard on an interim basis. The Champions League is the English club's last chance for silverware this season.

"I feel sad (looking at Chelsea's position in the table). I have a fantastic memory of this club, of the people that are still working there. I'm a supporter of Chelsea, because I spent two years there," Ancelotti, who managed The Blues between 2009-2011 and also had Lampard as a player, added.

Ancelotti, however, ruled out a move back to Chelsea.

"Will I go back (as coach to Chelsea)? No, I hope Lampard will be able to do a fantastic job with them... Lampard has been a great player who I coached for two years.

"He knows these kind of games well and how to prepare his team. He has been here for a week, but he will do well in the time he is at Chelsea."