Chelsea 1-0 Chelsea: Jose Mourinho's Side Beat Los Blancos 3-0

Predrag Mijatovic (Twitter @championsleague)

JAKARTA - Former Real Madrid star Predrag Mijatovic says Chelsea will face Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.

Real Madrid advanced to the semi-finals after holding off Liverpool 0-0 in the second leg at Anfield on Wednesday local time to maintain a 3-1 lead in the first leg.

Mijatovic heaped heavy praise on Zinedine Zidane, who has been the target of criticism as Real Madrid have had a less convincing start to the season.

Now, that criticism has been answered by Zidane keeping Real Madrid alive in the hunt for the Spanish League title where they are just one point behind leaders Atletico Madrid and keeping tradition as an important force in Europe after reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

"Zidane is right. He said, let him work and let's see how the season goes," Mijatovic told one Spanish radio station as quoted by Antara from UEFA's official website.

"Now Madrid are still alive in the Spanish League title competition as well as in the Champions League," he continued.

Mijatovic admitted from the start that his former team could reach the Champions League final this season, with the return of Zidane, the only coach to have won the competition three seasons in a row in the modern era.

Despite being knocked out of the Group B stage, Mijatovic believes all teams reaching the semi-finals including Chelsea -whom he says have improved under head coach Thomas Tuchel - will be worried about having to face Real Madrid.

"I am sure the other semi-finalist teams will be wary of Real Madrid. Some time ago, I've said Real Madrid will perform in the final," he said.

"Chelsea are thriving under Tuchel, but believe me they will be worried," Mijatovic said.