Who will face Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul on the night of May 29? This question occupies the minds of football fans around the world, and its answer seems open to all possibilities before being determined "on the pitch" in just a few hours.
On Wednesday evening, Chelsea will host the Spanish giant Real Madrid at their Stamford Bridge home in the return match of the semi-final of the most prestigious club competition in the world. The eagerly anticipated match is influenced by the result of the first leg, which ended in a 1-1 draw in Madrid, as well as other details pertaining to both teams. Chelsea, who last reached the final when they won the title in 2012 against Bayern Munich, theoretically has a good chance, as a goalless draw is enough for them to secure tickets to Istanbul. However, relying on leaving with a clean sheet may be a gamble that German coach Thomas Tuchel might avoid.
Tuchel has already made history in the Champions League by reaching the final of the tournament for the second consecutive time with two different teams, and he surely dreams of avenging the loss of his previous team, Paris Saint-Germain, in last year's final against Bayern Munich. Tuchel stated in "realistic" remarks reported by the UEFA website: "We should not expect to do crazy things, just the same again at the highest level... We have played tough matches and important games, so we feel this is a good moment to play this match." He added: "I want (the players) to play like hungry players... (we should) be ourselves: that’s the strategy... Rely on yourself... on your strengths and do the things that make you confident. And I hope we do not overthink and overdo it."
Tuchel, who also led his team to the FA Cup final, possesses a strong and coherent squad in all positions, led by Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, experienced center-back Thiago Silva, midfielder N'Golo Kanté, and promising American forward Christian Pulisic.
On the opposite side, Real Madrid and their coach Zinedine Zidane face a "season-saving" moment. The kings of the Champions League throughout history (13 titles) are uncertain about winning the Spanish league this year amid fierce competition with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. However, Real Madrid, who play their first semi-final after a two-season absence, rely on the immense experience of their players, along with recent developments favoring them.
Just hours before the match at Stamford Bridge, the French coach sent a highly optimistic message saying: "The feelings are fantastic, we are ready, and we will do our utmost to qualify for the final." Zidane confirmed that team captain Sergio Ramos, who has been missing lately, is in good condition after recovering from injury and may start.
Zidane remarked in other comments that he is "always amazed" by his team's ability to overcome difficulties. Real Madrid has faced the most injuries in La Liga this season but succeeded in returning to the race for both La Liga and the Champions League, despite the absence of many influential players. Zidane said: "We have faced many difficulties, but I tip my hat to the players... What I admire most about this team is their character, which shows at times of crisis. They are the best in my opinion. We have reached a stage we deserve and were planning for."
Real Madrid faced their latest injury blow when center-back Raphael Varane was excluded from the squad due to a thigh problem, joining a long list of injured defenders including Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez. However, Zidane received a morale boost with the return of Ramos, who could appear in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the ninth time, alongside French left-back Ferland Mendy and Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde.
Zidane can also finally rely fully on Eden Hazard, who performed well in Saturday's 2-0 victory against Osasuna, and may start in a stadium where he spent seven years before moving from Chelsea to Real Madrid in 2019. Zidane said about the Belgian player, who has struggled with a long series of injuries over two seasons with Real Madrid: "He is in good shape now, and I trust he will help us a lot. He will reveal his abilities and skills."
