This is a Chelsea predicted lineup for their UEFA Champions League clash with holders Paris Saint-Germain. This will use the latest team news available for the Blues as well as recent lineup decisions to make an attempt at predicting the eleven and tactics that Liam Rosenior will choose for this Club World Cup rematch.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup & Team News vs Paris Saint-Germain
How Chelsea Have Lined Up Recently
Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen have shared goalkeeping duties since the latter made his return from injury. The back line has featured Mamadou Sarr, Benoit Badiashile, Jorrel Hato, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Malo Gusto, Reece James, and Josh Acheampong across the back four with chopping and changing being a regularity. Acheampong started this past weekend as a right winger of sorts in an unconventional setup against Wrexham.
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James has stepped into midfield where Andrey Santos and Moiés Caicedo are the usual pairing but the return of Romeo Lavia has added another starting option. Alejandro Garnacho, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, and Enzo Fernandez have featured behind the striker either as inside forwards or wingers.
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Joao Pedro is the starting striker, he is in great form and has made it difficult for Liam Delap to get many chances as the second option. The Englishman did start at the weekend and played a chunk of the match.
Chelsea Recent Form & Tactics
The team has used a 4-2-3-1 setup for the campaign so far with a rare shift to a 3-4-2-1 being pulled out when needed. The intent is to play out from the back and use the goalkeeper as an outfield body to draw the press before playing through the back line or the pivot to get on the attack. From there, the team can play dangerous central balls or use full-back runs assisting a winger to stretch the back line, this eventually creates openings with the opposition’s defence being stretched and contracted until cracks appear.
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The Blues have lost just once in their past seven and have scored four goals in each of their last two matches. Their firepower has seen them blaze their way past some opponents even when their own back line isn’t up to the task. It is defensively where their big issue comes in, only keeping a single clean sheet in their last 11 fixtures, a record that just isn’t good enough for their current ambitions in all competitions.
Chelsea Team News
The travelling squad of 23 players excludes names like Estevao, Levi Colwill, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Jamie Gittens. It is safe to assume that anyone taken to France is fit to play some part in this one. The major question mark will come down to match fitness. Garnacho is in fine form but he’s played over 200 minutes of football in the past week and could be benched to protect him from injury.
Santos also started at the weekend and played 120 minutes in the cup so his usual pairing with Caicedo could be kept under wraps for this one, but a lack of fully fit options behind the striker could still force him to start.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup
GK – Filip Jorgensen
LB – Marc Cucurella
CB – Wes Fofana
CB – Trevoh Chalobah
RB – Malo Gusto
DM – Reece James
DM – Moises Caicedo
LW – Pedro Neto
AM – Enzo Fernandez
RW – Cole Palmer
ST – Joao Pedro
Featured Image Credit
IMAGO / Pacific Press Agency