Chelsea are back in Champions League action as they travel to Lille for the second leg of their last 16 clash.
Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Benfica have already made it through to the quarter finals of the competition and the Blues will hope to capitalise on their 2-0 lead earned at Stamford Bridge, to add their name to the list. Thomas Tuchel has seen Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta return to fitness to push their claim for a start against the French champions while while Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Saul Niguez and Ross Barkley miss out on the trip altogether.
The German coach will know that the Blues can not rest on their laurels despite their advantage, and will hope for a comfortable evening as Chelsea target retaining their title. football.london's Chelsea writer's pick their teams to face Lille below.
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Adam Newson
As difficult as it must be at this moment in time, Chelsea’s players must block out all the noise around the club and ensure they book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals. There can be no slip-ups against Lille tomorrow evening.
It’s why I expect Thomas Tuchel to go with a strong team, although the 2-0 lead built up in the first leg does mean he doesn’t have to take any risks over Reece James, who I would start on the bench.
In goal has to be Edouard Mendy, who has only conceded four goals in 18 Champions League appearances, while I would go with a back three of Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger. I’d bring in Cesar Azpilicueta at right wing-back following his injury and it’s time Marcos Alonso returns on the opposite flank, assuming he is fully recovered from Covid.
It has to be, as it was in the first leg, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic in the middle. Jorginho thrived in last season’s Champions League knockout stage but hasn’t been at his best in 2022. I think Thomas Tuchel has settled upon a favoured front three and I expect Mason Mount to be deployed on the right, Kai Havertz through the middle, and Christian Pulisic off the left.
Adam’s team: Mendy; Christensen, Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount, Havertz, Pulisic
Scott Trotter
With the return of Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso, Thomas Tuchel will likely jump at the chance to return to a back three in France. The Spanish duo should flank Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger as the Blues look for stability to guide their way through another Champions League round.
Jorginho's pass to Kai Havertz against Newcastle United left the football world purring but it might not be enough to secure his place in the side on Wednesday night. N'Golo Kante must start to once again govern the midfield in Europe. His man of the match record ensures he is undroppable in the competition.
Mateo Kovacic may keep Jorginho out of the team however. The Croatian started from the bench against the Magpies so should rotate into the side to give the Blues plenty of mobility in transition against a Lille side who were unafraid to attack at Stamford Bridge.
The French team's attacking propensity makes Christian Pulisic an easy choice given his success when afforded space this season, while Kai Havertz is becoming a true striker for Tuchel and appears to be allowing Chelsea's front three to gel.
The final place comes down to Mason Mount and Hakim Ziyech. The former has seen a promising connection with Havertz but the latter formed a lethal combination with the German star and Pulisic in the first leg. That success could tip the balance in the Moroccan's favour but it's a decision that's impossible to get wrong at the moment.
Scott's team: Mendy; Christensen, Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Ziyech, Havertz, Pulisic.
