Chelsea were ripped apart by the raw, but incredibly talented, Evan Ferguson for half an hour against Brighton before Danny Welbeck replaced him to score. It's the second time in just over 12 months that the former Manchester United forward has netted at Stamford Bridge in a positive result for the Seagulls.
On the right-side of the Blues' defence it was Trevoh Chalobah being given the run-around by the unassuming Kaoru Mitoma. Moises Caicedo dominated the midfield and Lewis Dunk blunted and swatted away Chelsea's out of position, out of sorts and out of form attackers like a fly.
How then, does Frank Lampard and his miss-match of a squad, stand any chance of overcoming seasoned professionals in the Champions League when everything projects a Real Madrid walkover on Tuesday night? If Ferguson and Welbeck caused trouble, what will Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema do?
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If Vinicius Jr really fancies it then he could cause further carnage, while getting close to Luka Modric in midfield with his forcefield-like perimeter around him will always be tricky. Brighton are classy, they're wily, they're well run and everything Chelsea aren't but wish to be. Real Madrid are even better.
Hope isn't completely lost for Chelsea but it is just that, hope. There is no discernible logic that dictates a comeback, nothing from this season of torture fits the narrative that even a special night under the lights at Stamford Bridge can save.
It would be boring not to believe though. So here's how Chelsea can beat off the scary inevitability of Real Madrid and become Champions League semi-finalists again.
Start strong, use the atmosphere
Nothing in this list is going to be mind-blowing. Chelsea don't have the time, skill or mental capacity right now to break down this European juggernaut tactically or go close for experience. The best chance of overcoming the might of Carlo Ancelotti's efficient machine is using the small advantages they have.
Stamford Bridge is a place for miracles, it has seen comebacks and turnovers. It fosters the impossible to at least be dreamt about and, as happened against Borussia Dortmund, is a place that turns itself on for games like this. If Chelsea can start strong, put themselves about and stay in the game for long enough to give the home crowd even a sniff of positivity, the game (Mrs Hudson) is afoot!
Team selection
The one big thing that Chelsea can do to effect this game before it has started is getting the blueprint right. In the first leg the 3-5-2 shape had its benefits and drawbacks. Without Ben Chilwell and Kalidou Koulibaly, plus the need for goals, the change to a back four may well be necessary.
Unless Lampard is happy to use one of Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana or Reece James out of position in a back three, the 4-3-3 will return. That leaves controlling and dictating play down to Enzo Fernandez - who will need the game of his career - and N'Golo Kante.
Up front Kai Havertz must at minimum do a better job than Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling of occupying and pinning the centre-backs in white. It's no easy task but if, and only if, Chelsea can get this part right then other areas of the game will come into play. With Havertz and Fernandez are two of the players that are surely undroppable for this tie.
Throw caution to the wind
Nobody expected Chelsea to win at Santiago Bernabeu. Few people expected them to win this tie. Preparing for the two legs with three managers across three games in the space of 10 days is proof as to why Madrid were the clear favourites.
The damning thing about the first leg is the sheer downbeat nature of it. Chelsea played like they knew they would lose 2-0, Madrid played like the 2-0 win was a formality and everyone appeared to have read the script. Other than a few half chances on the break it was a game played at one tempo and without much backbone.
Getting to this game and still being in with any semblance of a shout of progression was always the task. Chelsea have done that - just about - and now can't afford to waste what little chance they have. Going out battling, creating chances and putting Ancelotti's men under pressure is the only thing that will do.
It's not enough for this institution on the grand scale of things but right now it's about all they've got.
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