MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 16:17:15| >> :60:2039:2039:
[monks data]
Attendance: 39,469
Chelsea logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 17, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Valencia logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Rodrigo (75')

Preview: Chelsea vs. Valencia - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole provides team news, predicted lineups and a full preview of Tuesday's Champions League clash between Chelsea and Valencia.

Chelsea head into their first Champions League fixture of the season against Valencia on the back of an impressive 5-2 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday night.

Valencia, meanwhile, found themselves on the receiving end of the same scoreline as Albert Celades witnessed his new side suffer a heavy defeat to Barcelona at Camp Nou.


Match preview

Chelsea's Tammy Abraham celebrates scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on September 14, 2019.© Reuters

While Chelsea begin their European campaign far from the finished article under Frank Lampard, the Blues can at least start their bid to qualify for the knockout stages having put together a four-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.

The home draws against Leicester City and Sheffield United came as disappointments, but their demolition of Wolves at the weekend has shown what this young side is capable of when it all comes together.

Tammy Abraham's hat-trick, taking his overall tally to seven goals from three games, deservedly dominated the headlines, although another eye-catching display from Mason Mount has left the club's supporters salivating at the prospect of the academy graduate making his bow in Europe.

Considerable doubts remain over the defence, which has now shipped 13 goals in six outings, but Chelsea's short-term progression is all about getting results on the board, rather than fixating on a shaky backline.

Just hours after the English side had hit five in the West Midlands, Valencia conceded the same number of goals against Barcelona in what transpired to be a humbling start for Celades.

The club's fans were still reeling from the surprise dismissal of Marcelino when they watched their team concede two goals in the opening seven minutes at Camp Nou.

While some will point to the positives of restricting the Catalan giants to just three more goals, as well as scoring two of their own, Celades and his players are under pressure to get a result on the board at Stamford Bridge.

Celades will perhaps be already looking ahead to a generous run of four home matches in five outings on their return to Spain, although he will acknowledge that his squad cannot afford another defeat at an important stage of his reign and the club's season.

Chelsea form: LDDWDW

Valencia form: DLWL


Team News

Christian Pulisic celebrates scoring for Chelsea on July 31, 2019© Reuters

Despite Lampard acknowledging that he only went with a three-man defence against Wolves in order to adapt to their opponents, the club legend may opt against switching strategies for a game scheduled three days later.

Antonio Rudiger will miss out with a groin injury, leaving Kurt Zouma to return to the side alongside Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori.

With N'Golo Kante still trying to shake off an ankle sprain, the midfield four should remain the same, with perhaps just one alteration being made further forward.

Christian Pulisic could potentially come back into the starting lineup in place of Willian, who came through his first 90 minutes of the season against Wolves.

Celades may also decide against making major changes to his Valencia team, although the newly-appointed boss could move away from naming two forwards.

Geoffrey Kondogbia is in line to be handed a recall in midfield, with Kevin Gameiro likely to be the player to miss out.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Arrizabalaga; Zouma, Christensen, Tomori; Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount, Pulisic; Abraham

Valencia possible starting lineup: Cillessen; Wass, Garay, Paulista, Gaya; Torres, Coquelin, Kondogbia, Parejo, Guedes; Rodrigo


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Chelsea 2-2 Valencia

If ever a game was guaranteed goals, this would probably be it. While both managers will be striving for improved defensive performances, they are unlikely to materialise overnight, and we feel that the two teams will cancel each other out in an entertaining tussle in England's capital.



ID:371528: cacheID:371528:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8230:
Written by
Darren Plant
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
General view of Chelsea's Stamford Bridge taken April 2018
Read Next:
Chelsea planning £35m bid for Youcef Atal?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool660018
2Barcelona650115
3B. Leverkusen641113
4Inter Milan641113
5Brest641113
6Arsenal641113
7Aston Villa641113
8Lille641113
9Bayern640212
10Dortmund640212
11Atletico640212
12AC Milan640212
13Atalanta632111
14Juventus632111
15Benfica631210
16Feyenoord631210
17Brugge631210
18Monaco631210
19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Real Madrid63039
21Celtic62319
22Man City62228
23PSV62228
24Dinamo Zagreb62228
25PSG62137
26Stuttgart62137
27Shakhtar61144
28Sparta Prague61144
29Sturm Graz61053
30Girona61053
31Red Star61053
32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava60060
36Young Boys60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!