Ruben Loftus-Cheek was a surprise inclusion in the Chelsea XI for perhaps their biggest match of the 2021/22 season so far. After playing 90 minutes against Southampton at the weekend, the thought of the 26-year-old starting at the Santiago Bernabeu couldn't have been too common among the Chelsea fan base.
Loftus-Cheek made just his second start in the Champions League this season and the occasion couldn't have been any bigger. 3-1 down to Real Madrid after the Spanish giants dismantled Chelsea at their own stadium last week.
The Blues made the perfect start, though, with Mason Mount opening the scoring in the Spanish capital on just 15 minutes. The goal from Mount was a justified reward for early pressure from the traveling Chelsea. It was brave play - and it had to be.
