In a change to the usual schedule for European away fixtures, the Blues trained away from Cobham on the eve of the game. The Alfredo Di Stefano training ground, where we met Real Madrid last season, was the venue, with Thomas Tuchel overseeing the last session before the big game as we seek to make a declaration of intent on the European stage.

Cesar Azpilicueta was involved once more having missed the weekend win at Southampton because of Covid. After training the squad headed a few miles south-west to the Santiago Bernabeu, still undergoing significant reconstruction. It gave the players a chance to get a feel for the stadium where Chelsea have never played, although it would have been more familiar to our Spanish contingent and former Real midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

Check out the best photos from training and the Bernabeu below!