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#3 Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are well-rested for Real Madrid for the second leg against Chelsea
Chelsea were able to stifle Real Madrid and not let them hit their stride in the first leg thanks to the doggedness shown by the likes of Kante, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz in midfield. The ageing Real Madrid midfield found it difficult against the tenacity shown by their Chelsea counterparts.
An important thing to note here is that Luka Modric had played 77 minutes against Real Betis, just three days before the first-leg against Chelsea. Meanwhile, Toni Kroos returned to the team for the game against Chelsea after missing three of the previous matches due to muscular discomfort.
For the second leg, however, both Kroos and Luka Modric are well-rested. Neither of them featured in Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Osasuna this past Sunday and as such, Chelsea will find it tougher to dominate the midfield battle.
#2 Sergio Ramos, Fede Valverde and Ferland Mendy are back
With Dani Carvajal ruled out for the rest of the season and Raphael Varane coming off injured against Osasuna at the weekend, things were looking rather bleak for Real Madrid. But they have been boosted by the return of three top individuals.
Sergio Ramos is fully fit once again as is Ferland Mendy. Both players missed the first leg and the latter's replacement, Marcelo, struggled to keep up with the pace of the game. With the ever-reliable Sergio Ramos at centre-back and the enterprising Ferland Mendy playing on the left wing, Real Madrid will be a different proposition altogether.
Federico Valverde has recovered from the coronavirus and will be a great option off the bench. Real Madrid have enough quality personnel to ensure their intensity does not drop off during the game.
#1 Real Madrid's away form
The Real Madrid forwards have their work cut out for them against a resolute Chelsea backline. This match could end up being a cagey affair due to two reasons.
Chelsea have been solid defensively and all five of the goals they've conceded at home in the Premier League under Thomas Tuchel came in a single game against West Bromwich Albion. To be fair, all those goals came after the Blues were reduced to 10-men.
The other goal conceded at Stamford Bridge under Tuchel's management came in the Champions League quarter-finals against Porto.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are undefeated in their last nine away games. They have also conceded just two goals in their last seven matches on the road. Beating Real Madrid at home could prove to be one of their toughest tests yet, especially given how much more familiar Zidane's men are with this stage of the competition.
