At an average of 29y 208d, Real Madrid's starting XI is the second oldest in their Champions League history, behind only a line-up aged 29y 237d vs Viktoria Plzen in Oct 2018.

As I mentioned earlier, though, with that comes experience. As an example, Sergio Ramos will feature in his 16th match at the semi-final stage tonight - only Cristiano Ronaldo (21) and Xabi Alonso (17) have played in more.

Image source, Getty Images

Well, the Blues also began this season with a man who won the Champions League as a player in charge.

Frank Lampard failed to see it out, though, with him axed after serving his purpose to the club in a time of transfer embargoes and academy-player promotion.

Thomas Tuchel has since picked up the baton and... well, I wouldn't say run with it. It's more like a purposeful, unflinching stride.

Chelsea are perhaps not as exciting to watch under the German, but you can't fault the results. His 23 games so far have yielded 15 wins and just two losses. They are currently in the top four, have made it through to an FA Cup final and could add a Euro showdown with City to the mix.

As debut halves of a season go, I reckon we'd all snap someone's hand off for that.

Image source, Getty Images

Both clubs have gone over a little bump of late.

Real Madrid struggled when Zinedine Zidane (the man who delivered that treble) decided to step down as manager in 2018, with Julen Lopetegui failing to carry the torch before Santiago Solari was drafted in to keep the embers just about alive.

Zidane's return has signalled a return to form, though. They won La Liga last season, are in the race to repeat the trick this campaign and could make it a domestic and European double.

And what of Chelsea?

BT have stuffed Steve McManaman here, making him stand out on the touchline talking about his time at Real as he gets hammered by hail.

Spoke too soon. It's smashing it down now at Stamford Bridge.

Ben: Christian Pulisic off the bench isn’t a terrible idea...

This one is a tougher one to call than last night's for my cash.

Man City always looked in control of the second leg against PSG, who for all their huff and puff never really threatened.

What Real have in spades that PSG lacked is that experience and nous. Zidane's side are unlikely to panic or lose their heads like Pochettino's did in Manchester.

Don Hutchison
Ex-Liverpool midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Chelsea will go five in midfield tonight. I think the two wing-backs, Ben Chilwell and Cesar Azpilicueta, will be quite wide and will be up and down either flank.

I think Mason Mount, like the first leg, will play a little bit deeper alongside Jorginho and N'Golo Kante, and then have the pace of Timo Werner, and the trickery and skill of Kai Havertz, when needed.

No hail storms tonight, which is a bonus. The lads doing the punditry in that little BT area certainly look a lot happier. Rio has even got his big touch screen out.

This season represents the furthest Chelsea have ventured in the Champions League in seven seasons, since reaching the last four in 2013-14 and suffering defeat at the hands of Real's city neighbours Atletico.

Since then they've only been as far as the last 16, although they have experienced European success, winning the continent's beta competition, the Europa League in 2019.

As for Real Madrid... well, where do you start? Let's just do the most recent European history. The last two seasons has seen them exit in the round of 16 but prior to that they won the whole thing for a historic three seasons running as part of an eight-season run that brought the trophy to the Bernabeu four times and also included four semi-final appearances.

I think they call that pedigree.

So much experience in that Real Madrid side.

If Eden Hazard wasn't such an unknown quantity due to form and fitness issues, it would be a very formidable visiting XI. There are a few question marks, though, with what we'll actually get from the Belgian at the top of the pile.

If he turns it on and recaptures some of that old magic, I wouldn't fancy being Andreas Christensen.

There was a bit of a welcome party for the Chelsea team bus when it arrived at Stamford Bridge this evening.

Those lads are up for it.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, .

Just the one change from the first leg for Chelsea as Kai Havertz, who scored twice in the 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, comes in for Christian Pulisic.

Chelsea: Mendy, Rudiger, Silva, Christensen, Chilwell, Jorginho, Kante, Azpilicueta, Mount, Havertz, Werner.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Caballero, Alonso, Zouma, James, Emerson, Ziyech, Gilmour, Pulisic, Abraham, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi.

Image source, .

Eden Hazard helped Chelsea win the Premier League twice in a seven-season spell at Stamford Bridge and he plays for Real Madrid against his old side, replacing Marcelo.

Defenders Dani Carvajal and Raphael Varane both played in the first leg but are ruled out through injury with Ferland Mendy and club captain Sergio Ramos coming in.

For Ramos, he has recovered from a muscle injury and is making his first club appearance since the second leg of their last-16 win against Atalanta on 16 March.

Real Madrid: Courtois, Militao, Ramos, Nacho, Mendy, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Hazard, Benzema, Vinicius.

Subs: Lunin, Altube, Odriozola, Gutierrez, Isco, Valverde, Arribas, Blanco, Marcelo, Asensio, Diaz, Rodrygo.

Let's not waste any time, though. The team news is in and it makes for very interesting reading.

You may recognise a few of the names on this Real Madrid team sheet...

Welcome to our coverage of the second semi-final of the Champions League, the one that will decide who advances to take on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in Istanbul on 29 May.

In the all-blue corner is Chelsea, looking to reach their third final and with an advantage in the tie thanks to the 1-1 draw they earned in Madrid last week.

In the all-white corner is Real Madrid, the continent's most decorated club with 13 European Cup wins to their name and 16 appearances in the final.

Last night we had the emotional first, with Manchester City finally taking that bold, initial step into the final of the Champions League.

There will be no such maiden voyages setting sail this evening. Chelsea and Real Madrid have been here and beyond before.

It doesn't make it any less tense, though.

2008...

Image source, Getty Images

2019...

Image source, Getty Images

2021?

Image source, Getty Images