Chelsea takes a trip to Spain to take on the Europa League holders in a contest with little more than minutes under the belt riding on it.
Even the rain in Spain won’t be able to dampen Chelsea’s mood too much when the Blues face Sevilla on Wednesday night, having already confirmed qualification into the knockout stages of the Champions League. There are two games to spare, but the two clubs will be battling it out for sole possession of first place in Group E. Here are a few things to look for from the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium:
1. Who will stake a claim for a starting place?
As aforementioned, the Blues will not be burdened by the pressure of forcing their way out of Group E having secured at least second spot after defeating Rennes last week.
Frank Lampard now has the luxury of being able to rest a handful of his weary workmen, allowing the opportunity for those periphery players to make a point of warranting a start in future matches. None more so than Olivier Giroud, who became the hero in his native country after clinching victory for Chelsea against the Ligue 1 club in the dying embers of the evening. Typically, his contribution came after being brought off the bench, a duty he looks likely to fulfill until Tammy Abraham or Timo Werner suffers an injury.
Lampard has mostly maintained the same starting XI in the league since all of his new signings have been eligible to compete, ensuring consistency in results and performances. Kai Havertz has been the exception, absent from Chelsea’s past three fixtures after contracting COVID-19 earlier this month. It has been stop-start so far for the silky midfielder upon his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, but a strong European display—combined with the preassigned faith from his manager—will heal his bruised confidence.
Amongst the fellow extras vying for a more proactive role are the likes of Antonio Rudiger, Jorginho and Christian Pulisic. All were substantial components of the last campaign, yet, have been minor parts so far this year. Whilst the former pairing has merely fallen down the pecking order, Pulisic has been riddled with injuries that have disabled him from gaining a head of steam. The fully fit presence of Hakim Ziyech has been a blessing for the Blues in every sense, except for the matter of where to squeeze the American into this solidly formed side. He and Callum Hudson-Odoi, another to be snapping at the heels of the established, add an element of directness to Chelsea’s attack, which will be vital in light of Sevilla’s stubborn defence.