Azpilicueta, James, Jorginho And Chilwell To Start, Niguez and Alonso Out: Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Face Zenit

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3 years ago

Categories: Chelsea News, Galleries, Match Previews

Tags: Ben Chilwell, Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea, jorginho, Reece James, Zenit St Petersburg

Chelsea will be expecting to get three points on the board when they take on Zenit St Petersburg at Stamford Bridge this evening.

The Russian side have had a decent start to the season, but they will be facing the European champions in their first Champions League match at home since they lifted the trophy back in May.

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is likely to make a number of changes from the 3-0 win over Aston Villa at the weekend, as he looks to utilise the full depth of his squad.

Press the next page as we predict Chelsea’s starting lineup for tonight’s game.

GK – Edouard Mendy

The Senegalese international was the only reason that the Blues kept a clean sheet against Villa at the weekend. He put in a truly exceptional performance.

With Zenit unlikely to pose as much of a threat, Mendy should be expecting a quieter evening but, if he is called into action, you put your house on the keeper coming up with a good save.

RWB – Reece James

The wingback was suspended for the Villa match so, with Callum Hudson-Odoi having struggled at the weekend, we should expect James to be named in the eleven.

Considering Zenit are unlikely to press too far forward, the England international is expected to spend most of his time in the opposition’s half tonight.

CB – Cesar Azpilicueta

The club captain was a substitute on Saturday so it would be a surprise if he is left out for a second game in a row, despite Trevoh Chalobah doing very little wrong versus Villa.

Chelsea always look more solid when Azpilicueta is in the back three, and his ability to sniff out danger is second to none.

CB – Andreas Christensen

Thiago Silva may have been a top performer against Villa but the Brazilian is closing in on his 37th birthday and his game time needs to be managed across the whole season.

Christensen has looked excellent when handed minutes by Tuchel so the Dane is likely to be given the nod this evening.

CB – Antonio Rudiger

The German seems to play every game for the Blues, no matter what competition, simply because he is the most comfortable centre-back in the squad playing on the left-hand side.

Against Villa, Rudiger hardly put a foot wrong, which seems to be something you say about him after pretty much every match these days. A very consistent player.

LWB – Ben Chilwell

Tuchel has had a few things to say about the 24-year-old over the past day or so, which suggests he could be afforded an opportunity to start tonight.

Chilwell will need to grab his chance with both hands in order to stay in the team, though, with Marcos Alonso having performed well in his absence.

CM – Jorginho

Saul Niguez’s less-than-stellar debut means that Tuchel will be quick to reinstate the Italian midfield general for the Zenit clash.

Jorginho is always more comfortable on the European stage, where the pace of the game is slower, allowing him to pick out players with his superb passing range.

CM – Mateo Kovacic

Dynamic and full of energy, the Croatian international was one of the main reasons why Chelsea secured a 3-0 win over Villa at the weekend.

The fact that Kovacic got a rare goal and assist shows you that he is very much on the top of his game currently. N’Golo Kante’s absence has not been as keenly felt as it might have been.

RW – Mason Mount

The 22-year-old was given the day off on Saturday, so you would expect that Tuchel will reinstate the midfielder into the starting lineup ahead of Hakim Ziyech.

Mount has excelled in the “half 10” role, along with Kai Havertz, at the start of the season, and his creativity will be needed against what is expected to be a tightly-packed Zenit defence.

CF – Romelu Lukaku

The Belgian was clinical with his brace against Villa, and his finishing ability will undoubtedly be required again this evening to help secure the three points.

Lukaku has started the season in red-hot form and his performances throughout the course of the campaign will be key to Chelsea’s success.

LW – Kai Havertz

With Christian Pulisic out injured, and Callum Hudson-Odoi not pulling up any trees, Tuchel will probably need to stick with either Havertz or Ziyech in the starting lineup.

Neither performed at their best on Saturday but, overall, the German has been in better form this season than his Moroccan teammate.