UCL: How Chelsea Could Line Up Against Salzburg Today

Chelsea takes a step closer to progressing to the knockouts of the UEFA Champions League as they battle with RB Salzburg today in Austria. Here is a projected Chelsea lineup.

This match is a battle of the unbeaten sides, with neither Salzburg nor Chelsea losing a game since their reverse fixture, all the way back in mid-September, and with the teams 2nd and 1st respectively in Group E, both will be going all out for the win to get a step closer to the Round of 16.

Chelsea at the moment is facing series of injury scares ahead of the game today with Kalidou Koulibaly emerging as a fresh injury concern for the Blues’ Champions League Group E clash.

The Senegal international missed out against Manchester United at the weekend due to a knee concern, which Graham Potter claimed was “not too bad”, but he will not recover in time for this one.

N’Golo Kante is also battling his way back from hamstring surgery, while Wesley Fofana and Reece James are still out with knee injuries, and Potter may be tempted into a tactical change here.

After lining up with a back three against Man United from the off, Potter quickly removed Marc Cucurella from the first XI, and a back four may be preferred here with Koulibaly absent.

Cucurella would be the most likely to lose his place in that instance, with Trevoh Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta, and Ben Chilwell all holding their spots in front of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Mateo Kovacic was brought on early at the weekend after a similarly quick introduction against Brentford, but Potter has stressed that he needs to carefully manage the Croatian’s minutes due to a knee issue.

As a result, Conor Gallagher could be preferred to join Jorginho and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the starting lineup, while Mason Mount should hold his place despite being one booking away from a European ban.

Raheem Sterling can also expect another start as Potter aims to wrap up qualification as quickly as possible, but Kai Havertz’s fresh legs could be preferred to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front.

Chelsea possible starting lineup vs RB Salzburg

Kepa; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Silva, Chilwell; Gallagher, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek; Mount, Havertz, Sterling