Chelsea interim manager Frank Lampard made the decision to switch to a back five for the Champions League clash with Real Madrid. Adding another defender in Ben Chilwell to the starting XI meant an outgoing was needed elsewhere and with N'Golo Kante recalled, that change came in attack.
For the first time in nine consecutive games, Kai Havertz was the chosen forward to miss out with Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling tasked with leading the line. Lampard's decision appeared clever given the skill and pace of the attacking duo and their ability to break into space in the channels for Chelsea to try and exploit on the counter-attack.
Within the first few minutes Chelsea found themselves in behind the Madrid defence with Felix only able to fire his effort straight at Thibaut Courtois. Sterling also had a chance later in the half which drew an excellent reaction save from the former Chelsea goalkeeper. However, that was pretty much it for both.
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