Chelsea vs Real Madrid Champions League Prediction, Odds, Picks

• Chelsea are defending their Champions League crown from last season
• Real Madrid overturned a 2-0 deficit against Paris Saint-Germain last time out
• This is not a vintage Madrid team and Chelsea can pick up a first-leg victory

Chelsea vs Real Madrid Odds

Chelsea vs Real Madrid Pick

Back Chelsea to win in the Caesars sportsbook.

The Blues had too much energy and intensity for Madrid when they met last season, and they should also have too much for them on Wednesday.

This is a moneyline section – if you would like to learn more about how to bet the moneyline, check out our guide. Before you start betting, check out our guide – how to bet on soccer!

Chelsea Hoping to Use Off-Field Issues to Their Advantage

When Roman Abramovich, the Russian oligarch and owner of Chelsea since 2003, had his assets frozen by the British government due to his connections with Vladimir Putin, the club’s manager Thomas Tuchel found himself in an unenviable position. Instead of answering questions about his three-man defense, Mason Mount’s injury status or Romelu Lukaku’s form, Tuchel was suddenly confronted with inquiries about Russia, Ukraine, and the legitimacy of sanctions.

The Chelsea boss has emerged from the episode with credit. He has never shirked those tough questions and has resisted the temptation to act as if Chelsea have been treated unfairly.

He has also succeeded in ensuring his players remain focused on the task at hand: the Blues have won each of their four fixtures in three different competitions since the news about Abramovich broke last month. As the club gets ready to begin a new era under a different owner, Chelsea still have plenty to play for this season.

Tuchel did brilliantly to guide the west Londoners to Champions League glory last season. Manchester City and Liverpool are the bookmakers’ favorites to triumph this time around, while Bayern Munich are also fancied by many.

It would be wise not to write off Chelsea, though. This is a club that seems to thrive when its backs are against the wall; if anything, the drama around the sudden banishment of Abramovich seems to have brought the squad closer together.

Real Madrid Have Something to Prove Despite PSG Win

Real Madrid looked to be heading out of the competition they have won 13 times – considerably more than any other club – in the round of 16.

Having lost 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg in France, they went 1-0 behind in the return fixture and had a mountain to climb. Yet a Karim Benzema hat-trick, a masterclass from Luka Modric and an astonishing collapse from PSG saw Madrid turn the tie on its head in the final 30 minutes.

It was a reminder of the team spirit within the camp and the vast experience within a squad whose key components have played together for years. Yet for more than four-fifths of the tie, Madrid were distinctly second best. Were it not for PSG’s extraordinary mental fragility, los Blancos would be watching the quarter-finals from their sofa.

Madrid are on course to win the La Liga title this term, but their 4-0 humbling by Barcelona before the international break served as further proof that this team requires an injection of fresh blood.

And while everyone remembers the three Champions League triumphs in a row between 2016 and 2018, it is worth bearing in mind that Madrid have suffered elimination in the last 16 of the tournament in two of the three seasons since then.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were overly cautious in the first leg against PSG. They almost held on for a draw before Kylian Mbappe struck in second-half stoppage time.

It will be interesting to see whether the former Chelsea manager approaches this match with more attacking intent.

Hard to Look Past Chelsea in the First Leg at Stamford Bridge

There are a myriad of different markets for sports bettors to place wagers on these days, and there is often great value to be found when you dig deeper and look beyond the headline bets. Sometimes, though, betting the moneyline is the best option – and we believe this is one such occasion.

Chelsea have dealt with the off-field adversity brilliantly and, given they eased to victories over the likes of Norwich City, Lille and Middlesbrough last month, there is no danger of the players being distracted when Real Madrid come to town on Wednesday. This is the type of match that everyone connected with soccer relishes being involved in, and Chelsea will be determined to remind everyone that they will not relinquish their European crown without a fight.

When these teams met in the Champions League semi-finals last term, Chelsea drew at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and then won at Stamford Bridge. They simply had too much speed, dynamism and intensity for Madrid in the second leg, as Tuchel’s side pressed Zinedine Zidane’s team into submission. Madrid are in need of a refresh and they could be undone by a similar game plan here.

Chelsea are the favorites to go through and they will want to take a first-leg lead to the Spanish capital next week. Back them to do exactly that.

How to Watch Chelsea vs Real Madrid