The strains of the Champions League anthem will waft over Stamford Bridge as Chelsea open their European campaign against the most dysfunctional team in Europe, Valencia.
The natural order of European football has been restored: Tuesday and Wednesday nights are for watching Chelsea in the Champions League, Thursday is for making fun of Arsenal in the Europa League. The Blues start off their group stage at home, and should cruise to a strong statement win.
Scott Brant: Chelsea 3 – 1 Valencia. Valencia are a mess, and Chelsea will start fast as they have in the other games, netting two goals in the first half and one in the second. Christian Pulisic will have one and two will come from whichever striker starts. Hopefully that will be Michy Batshuayi since Tammy Abraham has earned a day off. Overall, a great start to the campaign.
Kevin Peacock: 2 – 1. So far this season it’s been all about the yoof. Frank Lampard now has the chance to give the older generation a chance for some game time in the Champions League qualifying rounds and League Cup games.
Valencia are in a bit of state at the moment, and that’s something the more senior pro’s should be able to take advantage of. The physio room is still busy so Lampard’s options may be limited, however, you’d expect Tambraham to get the night off. Whoever starts should be capable of getting the required result and SFL knows all about the competition he won back in 2012.
Having been slightly wide of the mark with my prediction Saturday, I’m going for a home win… with goals. Chelsea seem incapable of keeping a clean sheet, but as long as the goals are going in at the other end that doesn’t matter. New kids on the block Oli G will grab two and will.i.an the other.
Gabe Henderson: 3 – 1. To call Valencia a dumpster fire is an insult to burning trash bins everywhere. However, with Antonio Rudiger unavailable, the Spanish club will manage to grab a goal, but not the win.
The Blues are back in the Champions League and it is a wonderful feeling. Stamford Bridge will be buzzing and Frank Lampard’s squad will cruise to a relatively easy win, dominating the match and giving youth their first taste of huge European nights.
Barrett Rouen: 2 – 0. The European campaign gets off to a flyer. Sad to see Valencia in such a weird way, but better for the Blues.
Nate Hofmann: 2 – 1. As much fun as it was to watch the academy graduates pump five goals past a flailing Wolves side, Chelsea’s triumphant return to the Champions League will be an occasion for the older, wise veterans. Frank Lampard will have to rely on those steady hands who have already played on the biggest European stages: players like Pedro, Willian, Olivier Giroud, and Christian Pulisic (no, seriously).
The Blues will be handed an extra boost thanks to the catastrophic managerial upheaval at Valencia, where the players are actively protesting the firing of Marcelino. It’s a disheartening situation, and few clubs understand that type of dysfunction better than Chelsea.
That drama notwithstanding, earning the required three points with minimal fuss is essential, and it will be up to the veterans to deliver the goods. “Minimal fuss” isn’t exactly Chelsea’s M.O. at the moment, but this Valencia side has enough distractions that a focused Chelsea effort should do the business. Goals for Giroud and Pedro. Just please, god, no more injuries.
Tan Yi Hao: 4 – 0. Following the 5-2 trashing of Wolves on Saturday, the Chelsea squad will be full of confidence at the Bridge to kick start their Champions League campaign. On the other side, it has been a period of extreme turmoil over in Valencia and the contrasting states of mind between the two sets of players will surely mean an easy win for Lampard’s men.
Abhishek Pancholi: 4 – 1. The Spanish club has been in turmoil over the past week, thanks to problems of its own making. But they will make a good start in this tie, taking the lead against the run of play.
Their new manager bounce will only take them so far and things will start unraveling swiftly. Just five minutes after falling behind Chelsea will level the score through Mason Mount. After that, Chelsea will go on the offensive and score twice before halftime to flip the game on its head. Christian Pulisic will score the fourth late in the second half, leaving Valencia seriously considering making another managerial change on the way home.
Olaoluwa Nwobodo: 4 – 0. I’ll call a three-man defense on this one again. Chelsea looked slightly better defensively and the two goals could have been easily avoided.
Chelsea could be even better defensively this time. They have to keep a clean sheet at some point.
This young Chelsea team will want to air that they can compete on the big stage. They’ll grab the opportunity made possible for them by more senior members and make a statement. Michy Batshuayi hat trick, Marcos Alonso goal.