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Real Madrid and Frank Lampard’s side are facing one another in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League for the third consecutive season. Chelsea won at the semi-final stage in 2020/21 before eventually becoming champions, while Real Madrid won at the quarter-final stage in 2021/22 before going on to lift the title.

Strong showings in Spain

Chelsea have only lost one of their last nine Champions League knockout stage matches away to Spanish opposition (W3 D5), while they are unbeaten in three such trips (W2 D1).

Madrid conceded to both Celtic and Shakhtar Donetsk at home in this season’s group stages, and I fancy us to get on the scoresheet in the Spanish capital.

There is one man I’m hoping does so…

Raz is your man

Raheem Sterling started for the first time in five matches at Molineux and despite the Blues losing out in the west Midlands, the England international often saves his best performances for the European stage.

Indeed, Raheem has scored 27 goals in the UEFA Champions League, the second most of any Englishman after Wayne Rooney (30).

Sterling has been involved in five open play goal-ending sequences in the competition this season, the most of any Chelsea player. One of those came against Dortmund – which got us to this stage!

Want more of a reason to pick Raheem? Lampard spoke glowingly about him after the game at Wolves. ‘I think he’s a fantastic player,’ said Lampard. ‘He’s been one of the best wingers in the world for a long time, at times maybe in some people’s opinions the best.’

Finally, 10 of our 12 Champions League goals this term have come inside the area, just where Sterling will be ready to pounce.

Shots galore?

We have averaged 16 shots-per-game in the Champions League this season (a sequence of eight matches). We had 34 across our two legs against Borussia Dortmund, and 21 in Germany, so I’d expect us to at least hit double figures at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The hosts, on the other hand, have conceded 10.9 shots-per-game in Europe this season, so I’m predicting us to have 13 shots in this one, with four hitting the target.

Play Predictor can only be found on The 5th Stand, Chelsea’s official mobile app. Download the app now on Android or iOs and start predicting today!