Real Madrid: Three reasons to be optimistic about the second leg

Three big returns

The biggest reason for optimism has to do with returns for Real Madrid, not just players going to 100 percent. Sergio Ramos has missed the last few weeks with an injury he suffered over the March international break, while Ferland Mendy has been a glaring defensive absence over the past few games due to injury. And then Fede Valverde has also missed the past couple of matches due to COVID-19.

So right there, you have three more important players who could return next Wednesday. It remains to be seen if all three will be in the squad – much less start – against Chelsea, but, again, there is optimism.

As much as Real’s center backs have stepped up this season without Ramos, the 1-1 draw with Chelsea was a reminder of how much Ramos is missed in the build-up play and in shutting down the most dangerous of off-ball runs. Real Madrid are much, much better when he is playing.

And Mendy? He is necessary, for sure. Not only was Marcelo horrible (again) in the first leg, but he’s not even going to play in the second leg due to polling duty!

Valverde is not a usual starter since the “old guard” of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro is so damn good, but he’s definitely a starting-caliber player and has the athleticism and work rate to be a difference-maker against Chelsea. Even if he comes off the bench, he can change the game in a number of ways, as he’s shown versatility on the right side of the formation.

All three of these men can make a profound difference in the second leg, especially Mendy.