Real Madrid have built a reputation for finding a way no matter the odds in the Champions League, but Christian Pulisic believes Chelsea carry their own fear factor as well.
Tuesday’s semi-final first leg sees Real host Chelsea at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, with the return leg at Stamford Bridge next week.
The winners will book a place in the final on 29 May, where either team will arguably be viewed as underdogs given Manchester City face Paris Saint-Germain in the other last-four tie.
However, while the Champions League has so far eluded City and PSG, Real have won the competition 13 times, while Chelsea tasted glory in 2012 when beating Bayern Munich on their home turf.
“Champions League semi-finals don’t come around every day,” Pulisic said. “It’s an amazing time for us. Personally I’ve been looking forward to this game for weeks. It’s a big moment, there are nerves and a lot of preparation involved.
How to watch Real Madrid vs Chelsea in UK
- Match: Champions League semi-final first leg
- Date: Tuesday 27 April
- Kick-off time: 8pm BST
- Stadium: Alfredo Di Stefano
- TV channel: BT Sport 2 from 7pm BST
- Stream details: BT Sport app
“The key is going to be having a really good start to the match, showing our energy and showing we’re ready for this competition.
“They are going to be calm and experienced, and we have to be in that same way. We are going to need to go out and have a lot of confidence. We belong here. We have really accomplished a lot to get to this point, and we need to believe in our ability.”
Real expertly navigated their way past Liverpool in the quarter-finals, winning the first leg 3-1 before battling to a goalless draw at Anfield.
Though seemingly a shadow of the side that won the Champions League four times in five years between 2014 and 2018, with Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos at the heart of this Liverpool victory, many were reminded by Real’s knowhow in one of the toughest competitions going.
Real were not even the best side in Spain during three of their recent European triumphs, with Atletico Madrid winning La Liga in 2013-14 and Barcelona victorious in 2015-16 and 2017-18.
However, Real showed a steely side to their game which included late heroics in the 2014 final against Atletico, a shootout win over their city rivals in the final two years later, and a 6-3 after-extra-time victory over Bayern Munich in the 2017 quarter-finals.
Despite this, Pulisic is adamant Chelsea also pose as daunting opposition for Real, having tightened up defensively under Thomas Tuchel amid their rise up the Premier League table and run to the FA Cup final.
“I wouldn’t really want to play against us,” added Pulisic. “It’s not an easy game, ever. A lot of teams would tell you that. That’s the status we want to have.
“Of course Real Madrid have their history and it’s not going to be an easy challenge. It’s about going there, respecting them, but also believing in what we stand for and what we do. It’s going to be a really good match-up between two big teams across Europe.”
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3eF7u8a
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