Chelsea are off to a decent start this season despite the minor hiccups along the way. They sit in third position, having won four of their last five matchups in the Premier League and are six points off the top. Meanwhile, the Blues have made a return to the Champions League as well in this campaign, following a two-year absence from the competition and will look to make the most of it.
Chelsea will face Barcelona at Stamford Bridge soon after club football resumes, and the fans will certainly hope to be on the winning side. Both clubs have a bit of a history between them. Barcelona are a tough side to beat on any day, and the Blues will have to be at their best to achieve that.
Chelsea's biggest worry will be the unavailability of key players. On the other hand, it looks like Barcelona have been handed a fitness boost ahead of their trip to London.
Earlier, there were rumours that the Blues might be handed an advantage going into the game, as Pedri, who is one of the most important players for Hansi Flick's side, could be unavailable for the matchup due to injury. However, it seems that won’t be the case if recent reports are to be believed.
Chelsea receive bad news ahead of matchup against Barcelona
Journalist Xavi Campos (via Chelsea News) has recently confirmed that Pedri will be available to play against Chelsea. Although it doesn’t sound like he will be starting the game, and in all likelihood will come off the bench.
Nevertheless, Chelsea will have to be on their toes, and Enzo Maresca will have to set his tactics accordingly to keep the Spanish midfielder quiet if he makes an appearance. He is one of the best on the planet in his position.
Anyway, Chelsea know a thing or two when it comes to injuries to key players. Levi Colwill was sidelined at the start of the season with an ACL injury and is not expected to return to action anytime soon. Additionally, Cole Palmer has also been suffering from a groin issue that has caused him to miss a significant number of matches so far. That said, the England international will reportedly be fit to take on Barcelona, which is welcome news.
Meanwhile, most of the Chelsea players are currently away playing for their national teams. Estevao has particularly impressed with his performances among others. He will certainly be one to watch when the club returns to action on the weekend, against Burnley, after which they host Barcelona in midweek.