Europa League

[monks data]

Europa League | Quarter-Finals

Apr 18, 2019 at 8pm UK

Chelsea
4-3
Slavia Prague Slavia Prague

Pedro (5', 27'), Deli (10' og.), Giroud (17')

FT(HT: 4-1)

Soucek (26'), Sevcik (51', 55')

How Chelsea could line up against Slavia Prague

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 16 April 2019

Ahead of the game between Chelsea and Slavia Prague on Thursday night, Sports Mole looks at how Maurizio Sarri's side could line up in the Europa League fixture.

Chelsea head into the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final with Slavia Prague looking to build on their victory in the Czech Republic last week.

The Blues struggled for large parts of the game at the Sinobo Stadium, but a late header from Marcos Alonso gave Chelsea a potentially-important away goal.

However, Chelsea's run of four successive wins in all competitions came to an end at the weekend as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool in the Premier League.

Below, Sports Mole predicts how the West Londoners may line up for Thursday's encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Out: Antonio Rudiger (knee), Marco van Ginkel (knee)
Doubtful: Ethan Ampadu (back),

Antonio Rudiger sustained a knee injury against Liverpool, and that will likely lead to David Luiz partnering Andreas Christensen in the centre of defence.

Alonso is expected to return at left-back, while Ross Barkley may come into midfield as a replacement for Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

However, Maurizio Sarri may begin to show more priority to this competition, and that could lead to each of Jorginho and N'Golo Kante being selected alongside Barkley.

Willian and Eden Hazard both played 90 minutes against Liverpool, and that may result in Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi being preferred on the flanks.

Olivier Giroud is effectively a certain starter, having not got on the pitch at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.