Real Madrid vs. Chelsea: 3 key advantages for Los Blancos in first leg

Real Madrid have a very tough test ahead of them in the Champions League. Although Chelsea may not have seemed like Champions League title contenders a few months ago, they are in the semifinals and very much in the conversation after Thomas Tuchel took over. Tuchel dispatched of Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid, La Liga’s leaders, with ease, and he is ready to make an example out of another La Liga club.

It will take everything for Real to outlast Chelsea, who present Los Merengues with a stronger challenge than Liverpool ever did. But Los Blancos are not without their advantages. Here are three areas in which Real hold an advantage over the Blues that they can use to get off to the right start in the first leg.

Thibaut Courtois in goal

Chelsea have found a quality goalkeeper in Edouard Mendy, who is young and has saved 70 percent of the shots he’s faced in the Premier League. But Real Madrid have one of the best keepers in the world in Thibaut Courtois. Last year’s Zamora Trophy winner, Courtois is no doubt a familiar face to Chelsea fans, given he was literally the best in the world at the position before leaving for Los Blancos.

It took a bit of time for Courtois to find his footing, but once the team around him settled, so did he. And it is not a stretch to say that in 2021, he is the world’s best. Jan Oblak certainly has something to say about that, but Courtois is the one leading the way in La Liga with a jaw-dropping 81.6 save percentage.

Courtois was brilliant in the second leg against Liverpool and has put in some tremendous performances in 2021. He can single-handedly make the difference at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano this Tuesday.