Chelsea and Eintracht Frankfurt head into the second leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday night locked at 1-1 on aggregate.
Luka Jovic gave Frankfurt an early lead in last week's fixture in Germany, but Pedro's equaliser earned Chelsea a deserved share of the spoils at the Commerzbank-Arena.
Chelsea
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Chelsea have spent the campaign looking to achieve Champions League football for next season, whether that be through a top-four finish in the Premier League or by winning the Europa League.
However, the Blues have now secured a place at European football's top table courtesy of a 3-0 win over Watford at the weekend, and it has freed up Maurizio Sarri's side to regard progress through to the final of this competition as an opportunity over a necessity.
A total of 59 matches have been played to reach their target, and there would have been a sigh of relief when Manchester United and Arsenal each failed to record a victory at the weekend.
Nevertheless, Sarri is desperate to end his long wait for a trophy as a manager, and his Chelsea squad will want something to show for a journey which has taken them to seven different nations during the campaign.
Sarri acknowledged that Chelsea should have returned to Stamford Bridge with more than one away goal, but the West Londoners showed enough during the first leg to suggest that they could make light work of their opponents if they perform to their best.
Eden Hazard is likely to be handed just just third Europa League start of the season, and the playmaker is yet to contribute a goal or assist during 272 minutes of action.
Sarri has largely had to rely on the goals of Olivier Giroud, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek is becoming an increasing presence on the left-hand side of a midfield three.
The Italian will remain concerned regarding the performance of his backline, however, and the clean sheet against Watford at the weekend was the first in five matches in all competitions.
Recent form: WWWWWD
Recent form (all competitions): LWDDDW
Eintracht Frankfurt
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Frankfurt will feel fortunate to be travelling to England still on level terms with Chelsea, but boss Adi Hutter will be worried about the state of mind of his squad.
The Bundesliga outfit started and finished the first leg on the front foot, but the German team looked out of sorts as Chelsea dominated the middle period of a game which was one of Frankfurt's most significant for 39 years.
That performance led to Hutter being prepared to make three changes for what was an important fixture at Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, but Frankfurt proceeded to concede six goals in the opening 36 minutes.
Die Alder deserve credit for seeing out the remainder of the contest without further damage, but succumbing so tamely in a high-profile match was the worst possible preparation ahead of this game.
However, there are positives ahead of Thursday's fixture, with Croatia winger Ante Rebic being available again having sat out the first leg through suspension.
The attacker will almost certainly feature in a creative role behind Jovic, and the pair have contributed 36 goals between them in all competitions this season.
Jovic will also see the contest at Stamford Bridge as another platform to showcase his ability ahead of a summer exit, with the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain likely to be watching from afar.
Frankfurt head into this clash having conceded four at Benfica in the quarter-finals, but Hutter and his squad will take belief from victories registered at each of Marseille, Lazio and Inter Milan earlier in the campaign.
Recent form: WDWLWD
Recent form (all competitions): LWDDDL
Team News
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Chelsea will almost certainly be without N'Golo Kante after the midfielder sustained a hamstring injury at the weekend.
Mateo Kovacic is likely to replace the France international, while Loftus-Cheek should get the nod over Ross Barkley.
Willian and Giroud are expected to return to the starting lineup, and Emerson Palmieri could be preferred to Marcos Alonso at left-back.
Frankfurt are able to welcome back Rebic, and it may lead to Mijat Gacinovic dropping down to the substitutes' bench.
Sebastien Haller remains out of contention due to a stomach injury.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Luiz, Palmieri; Kovacic, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek; Willian, Giroud, Hazard
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Abraham, Hinteregger, Falette; Da Costa, Fernandes, Hasebe, Rode, Kostic; Rebic; Jovic
Head To Head
Frankfurt will be making their first trip to Stamford Bridge with last week's first leg representing the only competitive clash between the clubs.
Chelsea have only faced German opposition on four occasions since 2013, with the West Londoners coming through unbeaten in games played against Schalke 04.
Frankfurt last played a meaningful contest against an English team when recording a goalless draw with Newcastle United in the UEFA Cup during the 2006-07 campaign.
We say: Chelsea 3-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Both teams should have scored more than the one goal in Germany, and we are expecting a back-and-forth second leg in West London. However, we feel that the Blues could edge a five-goal thriller with a late strike.
No Data Analysis info
