Struggling Chelsea would be hoping to prove critics wrong when they take on in-form Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League UCL.
The Blues who have asked two coach this season following the takeover of new owner Todd Boehly now handed Frank Lampard the opportunity to right his wrong as he took the interim manager position.
Lampard will be in the dugout with the man who he played under while at Stamford Bridge, Carlo Ancelotti.
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It would be more of a night of reunion between both teams as Antonio Rudiger, who helped Chelsea win the 2021 Champions League will play against his former team.
However, Rudiger starts on the bench against his old club as Real Madrid make two changes to the side that knocked out Liverpool in the last round on 15 March.
Nacho also drops out as David Alaba and Rodrygo come back into the side.
Vinicius Junior, who has six Champions League goals this season, starts along with Karim Benzema.
Eden Hazard, another former Chelsea player, is on the bench.
For Chelsea, Frank Lampard reacts to Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat Wolves last Saturday by making three changes.
N’Golo Kante, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell returns to the starting line u for Chelsea while Marc Cucurella, Conor Gallagher and Kai Havertz watch from the bench.
Raheem Sterling, who has scored more Champions League goals than anyone else for Chelsea this season, keeps his place.
Here is how both teams line up
Real Madrid Starting XI:
Courtois, Camavinga, Alaba, Militao, Carvajal, Kroos, Valverde, Modric, Vinicius Junior, Benzema, Rodrygo.
Chelsea Starting XI:
Arrizabalaga, Wesley Fofana, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly, James, Kante, Fernandez, Kovacic, Chilwell, Sterling, Felix.