The 2022-23 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals are upon us, so we are taking a closer look at the first leg from Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid to get you the best Real Madrid vs. Chelsea betting pick and odds.
Real Madrid – Chelsea Betting Tip, Prediction & Odds (12.4.2023)
Chelsea head to Madrid as 15.00 underdogs to win the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League, according to bet365 Sportsbook. The Blues are having a disappointing domestic campaign and hope to make amends on the biggest stage. However, beating Real Madrid on the road might be a tall order for the Blues. Los Blancos sit at 7.50 to go all the way and are firm favorites to win the first leg against Chelsea at home.
Real Madrid vs. Chelsea: Initial Situation
Real Madrid topped Group F with 13 points (W4, D1, L1) and a 15:6 goal difference. Los Blancos eliminated Liverpool in the Round of 16, beating the Reds 5-2 on the road and 1-0 at home. On the other side, Chelsea was first in Group E with 13 points (W4, D1, L1) and a 10:4 goal difference. The Blues defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on aggregate in the previous round.
Real Madrid Stats & Form
Los Blancos are coming off Saturday’s disappointing 3-2 home defeat to Villarreal in the Spanish La Liga. It was their second loss in four games in all competitions. Last Wednesday, Los Blancos trounced Barcelona 4-0 on the road to reach the Spanish Copa del Rey Final. They’ve recorded five wins, two defeats, and a draw in their previous eight outings in front of the home crowd while posting a 19:6 goal difference.
Karim Benzema is Real Madrid’s top scorer in 2022-23. The veteran striker has bagged 25 goals across 32 appearances in all competitions. The 22-year-old winger Vinicius Junior found the back of the net against Villarreal and now has 21 goals and 15 assists on his season tally.
Chelsea Stats & Form
The Blues are winless in four consecutive matches, tallying a couple of draws and losses in the process. They’ve also failed to score in three straight outings. In their previous 12 outings away from home, the Blues have registered one win, three draws, and eight defeats while posting a 7:20 goal difference.
Frank Lampard will lead Chelsea for the rest of the season as a caretaker manager. In his first game at the helm, the Blues lost to Wolves 1-0 on the road this past Saturday. Chelsea lack a proper goalscorer, and the 23-year-old attacking midfielder Kai Havertz leads the way with nine goals in 39 appearances in all competitions this season.
Real Madrid – Chelsea: Head-to-Head
Exactly a year ago, Real Madrid eliminated Chelsea 5-4 on aggregate in the Champions League quarterfinal. Each side won 3-1 on the road, and Karim Benzema decided the winner in extra time of the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid have recorded three wins, two losses, and a draw in their last six encounters with Chelsea dating back to 2013.
Real Madrid – Chelsea Odds
Given Chelsea’s awful run of form, I’m not surprised by 1.70 odds on Real Madrid grabbing a victory in the first leg at home. We shouldn’t see a ton of goals in this matchup. Over 2.5 Goals pays 2.00 at bet365, while Under 2.5 Goals sits at 1.95 on Unibet Sportsbook.
I’m expecting Real Madrid to dominate in the middle of the park, control the flow of this game, and eventually come out on top. Both Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior have been unstoppable so far this season, and this duo should make the difference in the first leg against the Blues, who’ll try to slow things down and defend in numbers. I’ve mentioned Chelsea’s horrible run of form away from home, so it’s tough to back the Blues to get anything from this match.
Betting tip and prediction: Real Madrid – Chelsea (12.4.2023)