3. Ivan Rakitic vs. Chelsea’s midfield
I’m just going to be honest with you all before we dive into this key clash: I had no idea Ivan Rakitic moved to Sevilla before I began researching for this match. Barcelona had a crazy summer, so it’s not unusual to have seen this move get little to no press, but this is one of the brilliant under the radar transfers a European side made.
Anybody who has watched Chelsea for the last half decade or so knows Rakitic has put in his fair share of frustrating performances against the Blues. For clarification, the frustration belonged solely to Chelsea fans after Rakitic helped bully the Blues’ midfield with breathtaking performances.
The Croatian international may not possess the skillset he did when he first joined Barcelona back in 2014—from Sevilla, ironically enough—but the 32-year-old is still capable of putting in a world class shift every so often. Rakitic has lived for the big moments, whether it be domestically, in Europe or even on the world stage. This match is no different. A small £1.3 million transfer back to Sevilla earned him some slander, so he’ll be itching to show his ability to the world again.
Rakitic’s success will depend on which Chelsea midfield shows up, quite frankly. Like many other units across the globe at this time, the Blues’ midfield has been hit or miss over the last few months. They found themselves susceptible to the press against Southampton as they were overmatched almost the entire game. However, with the likes of N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Rakitic’s Croatian teammate, Mateo Kovacic, the Blues can go pound for pound with any collection of midfields in the world. Luckily for the Blues, lightning seldom strikes twice. Kante struggled against Southampton and as the world’s best defensive mid, expect to see a sensational performance by the Frenchman.
This clash is crucial because it dictates the flow of the match. Chelsea can score goals even when they’re being outmatched in the midfield due to the talent in attack, but the Blues leave themselves open at the back in these scenarios. If Rakitic and co. want any chance at leaving Stamford Bridge with three points, they must win the midfield battle.
What are the key clashes you’ll be watching for? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!