Chelsea’s confirmed team to face Middlesbrough: Diego Costa starts

Kick off in Chelsea’s clash with Middlesbrough is nearing. Here are the confirmed starting elevens for both teams as Premier League action returns.

Antonio Conte’s Chelsea and Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough are set to face off for the first time in over three years. Both team sheets have been handed in so let’s take a look at how the two sides line up.

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Conte has named an unchanged line-up for the fifth game in a row. Since switching to the 3-4-3 Chelsea have settled into a rhythm – a monumentally destructive rhythm – so it’s understandable the Italian has stuck with the same team.

Willian has been the only enforced change in the past weeks, due to the passing of his mother. With Pedro playing so well in his absence, coupled with the mind-set the Brazilian may be in, Conte has little reason so insert Willian back into the team. However, it may come as a surprise to see him not even named on the bench.

Diego Costa was the big question-mark, having returned to Cobham during the international break with a hamstring injury. This was just for precautionary reasons as he keeps his place in the side. Michy Batshuayi will continue to cosily settle himself in on the bench and hope to make an impact as a sub. Or hope Costa picks up his fifth yellow.

Elsewhere, Eden Hazard will look to continue his resurgence back to the being the best player in the league. He may find it tricky to break down a stout Middlesbrough defence on his own, though. Wing-backs Marcus Alonso and Victor Moses have been sensational and will provide the width to the side, while helping the defence keep their sixth clean sheet in a row.

Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta continue to make up an unlikely trio as the most in form centre-backs. Thibaut Courtois will hope his day is as easy as the last run out against Everton, who provided no shots on target.

Cesc Fabregas makes his return to the bench in place of the aforementioned Willian. Fabregas will be necessary if the Blues are struggling to break down Boro. Youth sensation Nathaniel Chalobah could see more minutes towards the end of the game – most likely if his side are winning. Asmir Begovic, Branislav Ivanovic, John  Terry and Oscar make up the rest of the bench.

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The opposition line up with former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes looking to keep Chelsea’s in form strikers at bay. Antonio Barragan, Callum Chambers, Ben Gibson and Fabio Da Silva make up the defence in front of Valdes. Barragan and Fabio have the capabilities to get forwards and will look to overlap at any opportunity.

Marten De Roon, Adam Clayton and Adam Forshaw will be charged with sitting in front of and protecting the back line, while launching the counter attacks. Up front, The Blues will need to be wary of mercurial wingers Adama Traore and Gaston Ramirez. The former has burst onto the scene this season while the latter appears reborn in the North-East.

Alvaro Negrado will hope to prove his nickname of ‘The Beast’ is apt by being a nuisance around Luiz, Cahill and Azpilicueta. In particular he make look to match his physicality against the smaller Azpilicueta.

What do you think of the teams? Sound off in the comments below!