Chelsea hosts Sevilla as the Blues kick off their Champions League campaign, here’s how The Pride of London has the match playing out.
Chelsea kicks off its 2020/21 Champions League campaign with one of its toughest ties. Sevilla, the defending Europa League champion, comes to Stamford Bridge looking to spoil the Blues’ hopes to win the group. It’s the beginning of a tough run of matches, so how do The Pride of London staff see this match playing out? Here are our staff’s score predictions for the Blues vs. Los Palanganas:
Michael DeVito: 2-4 Sevilla
Chelsea’s central defense isn’t the best and the keeper situation is the worst. Sevilla is playing well.
Olaoluwa Nwobodo: 2-0 Chelsea
Sevilla will be a tough opponent. Chelsea now has more Champions League experience in its ranks, so they needn’t worry. The Blues have something to prove, having being shooed out of the competition last season like little children who were trying to play where they shouldn’t. Sevilla is the Blues’ toughest group stage opponent on paper, how they do against the Spanish side will determine how they’d do against the rest of the members in the group.
Tan Yi Hao: 2-1 Chelsea
As impressive as Chelsea’s attack can be, the team’s defence means the opposition always has a chance to get back into the game, regardless of how many goals the Blues score. Against a team like Sevilla—who is as solid at the back as it is going forward—Chelsea’s UCL opener is going to be tougher than it seems on paper. The Blues would ultimately count themselves lucky to come away with a 2-1 narrow win.
Scott Brant: 2-1 Chelsea
The Blues should come out flying, wanting to prove a point and get off to a great start to their Champions League campaign. Kurt Zouma will want to assert his authority and dominate the match defensively. Not sure who will be between the timber, but they will have a ton of pressure on them. Timo Werner to score, and Callum Hudson Odoi to net a much needed goal.
Hugo Amaya: 3-2 Chelsea
Once again, a difficult game for the Blues. Chelsea will have the upper hand in the attack, but still struggle in defense. The attack will be in top shape, scoring the first two goals almost effortlessly. However, despite the defense’s best efforts, two mistakes will lead to two goals from the opposition. Nevertheless, the attack will be the reason why the Blues take the three points with a goal in the dying minutes of the match.
Oliver Smith: 3-2 Chelsea
I have a bad feeling about this one, and deep down, a loss for the Blues doesn’t seem out of the question. With how Chelsea has been defending, it doesn’t take much to breach the backline … maybe it’s time to try Rudiger again, Lamps? Sevilla is rugged and has performed at a high level pretty consistently in Europe over the past few seasons. Luckily, Lampard always has a way of picking his team up after disappointing games and especially in European ties. Expect Chelsea to be dominant in attack, concede from nowhere and somehow steal the game; Werner, Mount and Tammy Abraham to score.
Nathaniel Kay: 1-2 Sevilla
This game is untouched waters for Chelsea, having never previously played Sevilla in a competitive fixture. However, everyone knows of the Spaniards’ European pedigree, especially against English opposition. Just ask Manchester United and Wolves how hard it was to break down Julen Lopetegui’s side. Expect the visitors to go 2-0 up and it stay that way until a late rally from the Blues nets them a consolation goal.
Abhishek Pancholi: 3-2 Chelsea
It’s the hope that kills you. That and a dodgy defence.
Mike Malley: 2-2 Draw
I genuinely don’t feel confident about sending in any predictions for Chelsea games anymore, especially considering all the craziness that’s happened so far this season. I like the Blues’ chances of scoring, seeing as Sevilla centerback Diego Carlos is prone to a massive error at times. However, fans of the Spanish side are probably saying the same thing about Chelsea’s defenders. It will truly be a battle of who can make the least mistakes.
Gabe Henderson: 2-1 Chelsea
The match will see two early goals level the playing field for most of the match. After conceding, each side will settle in until the Blues’ pressure proves too much for Sevilla. Chelsea comes away with a late winner in a testy affair.
Travis Tyler: 2-2 Draw
Sevilla is a bit of a tactical mismatch for Chelsea, but it is a bit wounded at the moment. It’s a back and forth game where both sides just about settle for honors even.
Varun Dani: 3-1 Chelsea
Lampard should’ve unleashed hell on his players after the Southampton disaster and will look at their reaction to identify the players he can count on. There will be improvement, but not perfection, and that will just be enough.
Barrett Rouen: 2-2 Draw
I actually think things are going to get worse before they get better for us, unfortunately.
Nate Hofmann: 1-3 Sevilla
The Blues have the ability to blow Sevilla off the pitch, but their glaring mental fragility makes it almost impossible to pick them to win against any team with even an ounce of cohesion and professionalism. Lopetegui’s side has both in spades, and it should be too much for Chelsea to handle.
Kevin Peacock: 2-2 Draw
Chelsea remains predictably unpredictable and with Sevilla heading to the Bridge, who knows what the outcome might be. Never one to want to predict a defeat, but this game will be tough. So, I’m taking the middle ground and going with a 2-2 draw. However, that could easily be a 3-0 win or a 1-0 defeat, what do I know.
Wilfred Laurence: 2-2 Draw
I can see Timo Werner scorning early again, before being pegged back two first half Sevilla goals. After a back and forth second half, and maybe a red card (?), Olivier Giroud leaps off the bench to grab that all important morale-boosting equalizer.
Matthew Hancock-Bruce, Chelsea 2-1
Ziyech and Werner are among Chelsea’s new signings who have shown their class on the European stage before so expect them to be at their best tonight. Defensive frailties don’t seem to be going away anytime soon but the attacking talent is more than enough to get the win.
What are your score predictions for the match? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!