Frank Lampard’s Chelsea face a daunting journey to Madrid, while Napoli face fellow Italian giants Millan in the quarter-finals.
Real Madrid and Chelsea face each other for a second consecutive time in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday, while AC Milan and Napoli renew hostilities for an all-Italian clash in the evening’s other quarter-final.
Real Madrid vs Chelsea
When: Wednesday April 12
Where: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid
Kick-off: 19:00 GMT
Real Madrid knocked out Chelsea last season en route to a record-extending 14th European trophy. They also met in the semi-finals two seasons ago, as Chelsea went on to eventually take the title.
Madrid are looking to reach the semi-finals for the 11th time in 13 seasons, while Chelsea have made only one last four since 2013-14.
The winner of the two-legged draw will play against Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
Plenty of stars have moved between Chelsea and Madrid 🔄 pic.twitter.com/6Ablo334nP
— B/R Soccer (@brfootball) April 12, 2023
Player news
Real Madrid have almost all their players available for the first leg, with the exception of left back Ferland Mendy.
Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante did not play in Chelsea’s last game in the Premier League, but have started training again and should be available for the trip to the Spanish capital.
Benzema 🆚Chelsea…@Benzema || #UCL pic.twitter.com/M1eIt2ddoM
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 12, 2023
Comments from the trainers
Chelsea arrive in Madrid for the first leg with Frank Lampard back in charge as the team’s interim coach, calling on his young squad to prove themselves as “leaders” on the pitch after a run of disappointing results.
“Games like tomorrow are a great opportunity to perform and show the personality that makes you a good leader,” Lampard said on Tuesday. “We will try, if we can, to create our own piece of history, but of course the steps ahead are very difficult,” he added.
Carlo Ancelotti led Madrid to the Champions League title last season, but now there are reports he may be leaving to take a job with Brazil’s national team.
“[Lampard] knows this kind of matches well and knows how to prepare his team. He’s been here for a week now, but he will do well in his time at Chelsea,” he said.
“We have to respect the team and the club, they have very good players and even if they are not at a good time, they have great motivation and will bring out the best. It is a team of a very high level” he added.
AC Milan against Naples
When: Wednesday April 12
Where: San Siro, Milan
Kick-off: 19:00 GMT
Milan beat Napoli 4–0 in Serie A on April 2 to boost confidence in the European game. Napoli nevertheless has a lead of 16 points over number two Lazio in their own country.
Seven-time champions Milan boast a much more remarkable European pedigree, but have not been in the last eight since 2012.
It is Napoli’s first ever appearance in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Player news
Napoli’s Serie A top scorer Victor Osimhen missed the league game against Milan with a thigh injury and has not recovered in time for the trip to San Siro. Osimhen’s place could be taken by Italy’s Giacomo Raspadori, Napoli’s only fit striker as Giovanni Simeone has suffered a hamstring injury.
Milan defender Pierre Kalulu is struggling with a calf problem and is unlikely to appear.
Meet ‘Kvaradona’ 🇬🇪#UCL pic.twitter.com/6JlIBqcscp
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 12, 2023
Comments from the trainers
Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti pointed out that his team won every match when Osimhen was last injured late last year, as proof that the 24-year-old’s absence will not hurt his side.
“The strength of a team is never just the sum of its different parts. It’s the sum of all his qualities, how they coexist and the way the team works together,” Spalletti told reporters on Tuesday.
Milan coach Stefano Pioli said Milan, who have won just one of their last six games in all competitions, will be another prospect in the Champions League.
“The Champions League has nothing to do with the league, they are two different things with different teams,” said Pioli. “It will be a completely different matter for the league.”
The winner of the two-legged matchup will face either Inter Milan or Benfica in the semi-finals.