Chelsea bring back both Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante for tonight’s Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.
A 24-man group flew to Spain for the quarter-final first-leg tie at the Santiago Bernabeu, including recent absentees Kante, Mason Mount and Silva.
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Kante and Silva both start tonight, with Mount on the bench. Kante had always been expected to start after having his load managed against Wolves, but Silva and Mount’s fitness had been unclear. Mount has a niggling pelvic injury that is causing him discomfort and pain, while Silva returns after six weeks out through a knee injury and after just two training sessions.
Club captain Cesar Azpilicueta also travelled and is on the bench having been out with a knee injury and concussion issues since mid-February. Third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli is back in the travelling squad after a minor injury.
Armando Broja hasn’t travelled after a serious knee injury and continues to step up his recovery to be available next season. Carney Chukwuemeka is also out.
Caretaker manager Frank Lampard drafts in Ben Chilwell to play ahead of Marc Cucurella in a change from his first match in charge.
Chelsea starting XI: Kepa; Fofana, Silva, Koulibaly; James, Kante, Kovacic, Enzo, Chilwell; Sterling, Joao Felix.
Subs: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Cucurella, Chalobah, Gallagher, Loftus-Cheek, Zakaria, Mount, Mudryk, Ziyech, Pulisic, Havertz
