Valencia CF vs Chelsea FC- Preview

The Champions league action is back tonight and the blues will be facing Valencia in their 5th game of the Group H fixture. It will be the 2nd time in this year’s UCL campaign that both the sides will be locking horns with each other. A victory for the blues in this fixture would guarantee a qualification to the round of 16.But given the circumstances, the trip to Mastella will be a tricky one for Lampard’s men.

Key Players for Chelsea

In a crucial game like this, the players need to be at their best and try to get a result from tonight’s match. Our senior players like Azpilicueta, Willian, Kante, Jorginho & Kovacic would have a major role to play alongside our young blues. Their experience would give us a strategic edge over the opponents. In our gaffer’s system of free flowing football the midfield should be at their best as such a lot depends on Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic, whose performance could secure us the qualification tonight.

Head to Head: Valencia vs Chelsea

Both the clubs have met on 7 occasions previously and coincidentally, all of the games played between them were in the Champions League tournament itself. The blues registered 3 wins against Valencia’s tally of 1 win along with 3 draws.

The blues were involved in a dramatic game against Ajax in the last match of Group H fixture where the boys pulled the game back from 4-1 t 4-4 and even pressed to get a win. The club also enjoyed a 6 game winning streak in the premier league which only shows that the confidence and the ability to play a fearless brand of football is underway at Chelsea Football Club under the leadership of Frank Lampard.

Injuries and Suspension

Ruben Loftus Cheek (Achilles injury, ruled out)

Antonio Rudiger (Pelvic pain, contention)

Ross Barkley (Ankle injury, contention)

Predicted Playing XI

Chelsea are expected to play in a 4-3-3 formation against Valencia tonight. The blues are expected to play a possession based football with a high press from the players in the midfield. This is the team we can expect for tonight’s game:

Photo Courtsey: www.buildlineup.com

Keep The Blue Flag Flying High!!!

-Mainak Mitra