Ex-Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet is expecting Thomas Tuchel’s side to come out on top against Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final tie.

The Blues faced Real in the semi-finals last season and came out 3-1 winners on aggregate. While the La Liga side are now a stronger team, Poyet still feels his former club will triumph over two legs:

“There are players that you need in these games and it will be decided depending on who is [available] because the level is very even. This Madrid is almost the same as last season, but it has been reinforced with [David] Alaba and the best Vinicius. But regardless of everything, I’m going with Chelsea.”

It’s a difficult tie to predict. On the one hand, Chelsea have just been on the receiving end of a shock 4-1 home defeat to Brentford, so that may have a bearing on tomorrow’s first leg.

On the other hand, Real were thrashed 4-0 at home by Barcelona a couple of weeks ago, and they were not that convincing in their 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday, needing two penalties to secure victory.

Chelsea’s record in Europe over the past two campaigns has been excellent, though, so Poyet is probably right to name them as favourites to progress to the semis.