Real Madrid v Chelsea Betting Tips [12 April 2023]

Defending champions Real Madrid host Chelsea in the first leg of this Champions League last eight tie. The home side saw their faint La Liga title hopes diminish even further at the weekend with a 3-2 home loss to Villarreal. That came just a few days after a big win at Barcelona in the Copa del Ray. They return to the Champions League looking to win a 15th title and are the favourites to progress to the last four and a tie against either Manchester City or Bayern Munich. Real won their Champions League group this season by a point from RB Leipzig (who lost in the last 16) and won all three of their home games with nine goals scored. The last 16 saw them beat Liverpool 6-2 which was impressive enough before stating that they trailed the away first leg 2-0 after just 14 minutes.  These two sides met at this stage of last season's Champions League. Real won that on aggregate but lost the home second leg 3-2.

Frank Lampard couldn't have imagined he'd be back managing Chelsea in the last eight of the Champions League. Sacked by them two years ago, he's now the interim manager before Chelsea appoint yet another full-time manager, unlkely to be Lampard. Chelsea know that if they are to be in the Champions League in 2023/24, they'll have to win it this season. All those millions of pounds spent and they are 11th in the Premier League, 17 points off fourth and played a game more. Their first game since Lampard returned to Stamford Bridge saw them beaten 1-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers, their 11th league defeat of the season. It's gone better in the Champions League with them winning their group by three points from Milan but losing 1-0 at Dinamo Zagreb who finished bottom. The last 16 saw another 1-0 away loss at Borussia Dortmund but they recovered to win the home second leg 2-0 to progress.  Back Real to win this game.