Real Madrid vs Chelsea: 5 players who will decide the first leg

Chelsea CM N’Golo Kante

This man needs no introduction. Ever since his move to Chelsea in 2016, he has won it all and has been one of their best players. He is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the world and is also one of the most loved players by fans.

The Frenchman is the whole and soul of Chelsea’s midfield. He is the chief ball-winner, the main progressive ball carrier, and he’s the fastest counter-attacker in that Chelsea team. As per FBRef, he is in the 98th percentile for dribbles completed per 90 with an average figure of 1.96 dribbles per 90 and has registered numbers of 2.85 shot-creating actions per 90 and 1.5 successful tackles per 90 in the Premier League.

It is important to win the midfield battle to win big games like these, and Kante has the ability to win the midfield battle on his own. He overran the exhausted and aging Real Madrid midfield last season, and made sure that the gala trio of Kroos, Modric, and Casemiro never got going.

Kante, in his prime at the age of 31, is unstoppable on his day, and it would be important for Real Madrid to minimize his impact. Casemiro might not be as fast as him, but he needs to bring on his A-game to stop the Frenchman from entering the final third, and maybe a player like Fede Valverde might be needed to match him step by step and take care of him.