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Mateo Kovacic has opened up and detailed his admiration for Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric ahead of Tuesday night's second leg. Chelsea have it all to do at the Santiago Bernabeu as they look to overturn a 3-1 deficit against the odds.

The Blues slumped to defeat at Stamford Bridge last week after Karim Benzema netted a hat-trick in west London, with Kai Havertz offering a reply for the hosts. There's no away goal rule this season in the Champions League, which makes it slightly better for Chelsea, but the task still looks to be a mega one on Tuesday.

Kovacic was used from the bench in last week's defeat to his former club, but did start in Chelsea's 6-0 demolition job of Southampton on Saturday. The Croatian will be hoping Thomas Tuchel will give him the nod on Tuesday at the Bernabeu as he looks to inspire his team to an almighty comeback in Spain.

The 27-year-old will be determined to come up against his international and former club team-mate, Luka Modric, who he spent four years with at the Bernabeu. Modric, who has established himself as one of European football's top midfielders over the past 10 years or so, was in sublime form at Stamford Bridge last week.

Kovacic has revealed his admiration for his Croatia team-mate and how difficult it is to go head-to-head with him. He said: "It is difficult to stop him because he is an amazing