Chelsea can secure their place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals with a win over Real Madrid on Wednesday night.

The Blues started their campaign with a 2-2 draw in Madrid – the only point Wednesday’s visitors have collected in the competition so far. Emma Hayes’ team have since gone on to top Group D with two matchdays remaining, although Hacken and Paris FC are right on their tail.

In the absence of Sam Kerr, Chelsea have turned to Lauren James to lead their charge on multiple fronts, and the English superstar netted a hat-trick at the weekend to down Man Utd in the WSL.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, have won ten of their 13 league fixtures this term, but matching Barcelona at the summit seems beyond them.

Here’s 90min’s preview of Wednesday’s WUCL group stage clash at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Musovic; Lawrence, Buchanan, Carter, Charles; Cuthbert, Ingle; Kaneryd, James, Reiten; Fishel.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Rodriguez; Hernandez, Andres, Sousa, Carmosa; Olofsson, Toletti; Del Castillo, Zornoza, Caicedo; Feller.

Hayes will be keen to get one over Madrid on Wednesday given the perceived injustice she felt her side was subject to in the reverse fixture. The Chelsea boss believed her side were “robbed” of three points on Matchday 1 as a result of several poor refereeing decisions.

Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that the hosts are comfortably superior despite Kerr’s absence. In James, Chelsea boast one of the world’s leading performers and her performance on Sunday suggests she’s ready to take the mantle in the Australian’s absence.

The Blues can book their place in the knockouts with a victory on Wednesday and they should prevail with some comfort.