Three key clashes to watch for as Chelsea hosts Sevilla in the UCL

Chelsea takes on its toughest group opponent first in Sevilla, what are the three key clashes to keep an eye on as the Champions League kicks off?

Chelsea faces possibly its toughest test of the season thus far in its first Champions League match against Sevilla. The Blues have been inconsistent out of the gate, but the saving grace is the fact that every other team has, bar a few clubs. Big clubs have been hit especially hard with the international break wedged between some important fixtures. Nonetheless, the show must go on.

It looks like Frank Lampard will likely be without No. 1 goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for this match, so it’ll be another shaky day at the back against the current Europa League champions. Luckily for the Blues, almost every other player they signed this summer is ready to go, with the German pair finding themselves in great form. Chelsea is looking to rebound following a disheartening draw with Southampton the last time out, so what are three key clashes to keep an eye on if the Blues want to have any shot at winning the match?

1. Frank Lampard vs. Himself

These unprecedented times are especially hard on young managers. Lampard hasn’t faced a situation like this before, so he’s got a lot of critics keeping a close eye on how he handles a plethora of important matches in quick succession. While one can certainly argue the Premier League restart mimicked this run in terms of the quantity of games in a given week, the difference is in quality and travel.

Chelsea is going to spend the next few weeks traveling across not only England, but Europe as well. The opening match against Sevilla is at home in London, making it even more important. Lampard need not look ahead; instead, he needs to give this match his full attention. Given the run of games coming up, the away legs against Krasnodar and Rennes are going to be difficult, so the Blues need to hit the ground running against Sevilla.

Lampard needs to stay out of his own head when setting up the team for this one. Although he’s usually spot on managing the team on the biggest stages, he’s been known to tinker a little too much. The third-year manager needs to field his best XI—Mendy not included—in the positions where he feels he can get the most out of every individual. Further, the team should be lined up in the formation most known to the squad. Many will call for a formation suited to counter the speed of the Spanish side, but in the end, familiarity is key.

The last year and a half has shown us Lampard is his own worst enemy. Tactically, he’s one of the most promising young managers in Europe. However, much like Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, he sometimes overdoes it. Lampard needs to trust his gut and his assistants in this match. Simplicity and familiarity go a long way when you have a side full of superstar footballers—let them do their thing in an important match.