Hazard, Isco and Luka Jovic out of Chelsea clash

Real Madrid will be without the services of Eden Hazard, Isco and Luka Jovic for Wednesday night’s Champions League quarter-final first leg with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Hazard recently underwent an operation to remove a metal plate from his leg, meaning that the Belgium international misses out on the chance to take on his former club.

Isco, meanwhile, is unavailable for selection due to a back problem, and Luka Jovic has not been included in the squad due to an ankle issue.

Los Blancos otherwise have a full squad, with the likes of Ferland Mendy, Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema all included despite recent issues.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti is allegedly considering handing Gareth Bale a start in the final third for the first leg in London, potentially joining Benzema and Vinicius Junior in a front three.

Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Mendy, Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modric are also all expected to be in the starting XI on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile,Los Blancos will be out to end their worst-ever winless run in European competition against a single opponent when they face Chelsea.

Ancelotti’s side were seemingly down and out in the last-16 against Paris Saint-Germain but produced a phenomenal comeback in the second leg through Karim Benzema’s hat-trick to make the quarters.

Chelsea and Real are familiar foes in the Champions League, with the Blues claiming a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano before winning 2-0 at home in the semi-finals last term.

Those two results extended Real’s winless run against Chelsea to five matches, which represents Los Blancos’ worst record against a single club in European competition.

Chelsea had previously beaten Real Madrid 1-0 in the 1998 UEFA Super Cup, and the London club also won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1971 over Real, with the first encounter ending 1-1 before the Blues won the final decider 2-1.