An all-English affair in the Champions League final could become reality for only the third time in the competition's history on Wednesday, when Chelsea host Real Madrid in the return leg of their semifinal.
The Blues secured a valuable 1-1 draw in Spain last week thanks to Christian Pulisic's first-half goal and a goalless draw would be enough for them to progress to a first Champions League final since 2012, when they lifted the trophy for the first time in their history as they defeated Bayern Munich on penalties.
With Manchester City having already booked a ticket to the final, which is to take place later this month, Chelsea could also ensure two Premier League clubs will meet with European soccer's biggest prize at stake for just the third time.
Incidentally, Chelsea and a team from Manchester were both involved when two English teams first collided in a Champions League final, with the Londoners losing to Manchester United on penalties in 2008. Liverpool overcame Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the 2019 Champions League final.
This time around, Chelsea could cross path with Manchester City instead, after the Premier League champions-elect defeated Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 on Tuesday, and 4-1 on aggregate, to reach the Champions League final for the first time in the club's history.
While City arrived in the second leg on the back of a 2-1 win in Paris, Chelsea's advantage is far slimmer. While the away goal in Madrid could prove crucial, Chelsea's record at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League this season is relatively underwhelming with two wins in four games. Significantly, however, the Blues have kept a clean sheet in three of those four occasions.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, has kept a clean sheet in both of its knockout games in Europe this season, winning 1-0 away against Atalanta in the Round of 16 and drawing 0-0 at Anfield against Liverpool in the quarterfinals. The 13-time Champions League winners also won their last semifinal game played away from home in the competition, defeating Bayern 2-1 in Munich in 2018.
Here's all you need to know ahead of Wednesday.
When is Chelsea vs. Real Madrid?
The second leg of the Champions League semifinal kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 5. The game will be played at Stamford Bridge in London.
How to watch Chelsea vs. Real Madrid on TV
The game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network, while Univision will carry the game with Spanish commentary.
How to watch Chelsea vs. Real Madrid online
There are different options available to those wanting to watch the game online. A live stream will be available via the CBS streaming platform Paramount+—subscription costs $9.99 per month or $5.99 per month with limited commercials— as well as via FuboTV, which offers a seven-day free trial. A live stream with Spanish commentary will be available on TUDN.
Chelsea vs. Real Madrid odds
The bookmakers expect Chelsea to get the job done on Wednesday. The Blues are 11-10 favorite to win the game with DraftKings and William Hill, while Real Madrid is at 5-2 with both bookmakers and the draw is at 12-5. Real Madrid's striker Karim Benzema is a 7-2 favorite to be the first goal scorer, while Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner are both 5-1 to be the first name on the scoresheet.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he was a news and business reporter at International Business Times UK. Dan has also written for The Guardian and The Observer.
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