Chelsea begin their UEFA Champions League knockout campaign away at German giants Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
The Blues will hope to take comfort in European competition after winning just one of their last nine domestic matches since returning from the World Cup – a run that has seen them score just six goals.
But it won’t be easy against a Dortmund side that have won all six of their post-World Cup games, advancing in the DFB-Pokal and moving to within just three points of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.
Dortmund team news
Mateu Morey is still recovering from a serious knee injury and is unlikely to make it back in time for this match. Youssoufa Moukoko also picked up a knock against Werder Bremen at the weekend and should join Abdoulaye Kamara on the sidelines.
Chelsea team news
Chelsea remain without a number of first-team players, including N’Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Armando Broja and former Dortmund forward Christian Pulisic.
Wesley Fofana, Mateo Kovacic, Raheem Sterling and Denis Zakaria are all nearing returns but likely won’t feature on Wednesday.
Benoit Badiashile was not registered for Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League squad.
Chelsea predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):
Kepa; James, Chalobah, Silva, Chilwell; Loftus-Cheek, Enzo; Madueke, Felix, Mudryk; Havertz.
Dortmund starting 11 (4-1-4-1):
Kobel; Ryerson, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro; Can; Reyna, Bellingham, Reus, Brandt; Haller.
Clicks on ADS 👇👇
.