Chelsea begins the 2022-23 Champions League season with a trip to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb.
While the Blues earned their place in this group stage via the Premier League, the home team secured its place in Europe's football elite via three qualifying rounds.
Chelsea vs Dinamo Zagreb UEFA Champions League Group Stage
Even by Chelsea's standards, the summer transfer window was chaotic and likely had some bearing on the Blues' far from convincing showing in their first games.
Saturday's controversial 2-1 win over West Ham United means the Blues are now a point clear of Liverpool and just four points behind Manchester City, who are expected to conquer all this season.
Considering the underwhelming defensive performance, Thomas Tuchel will take 10 points from six games, but the German will know that now is the time for his players to deliver the performances that are expected and demanded of them.
Chelsea have now conceded nine goals in five games - it would have been 10 had VAR not made what felt like a monumental mistake against West Ham - and Tuchel must decide whether to go with a three-man or four-man backline in the coming weeks.
On the offensive, Chelsea has generally lacked penetrating power, and Tuchel must hope that Kai Havertz's first goal of the season marks the end of his ineffective performances in the final third.
Dinamo Zagreb is considered an outsider in the group as they had to beat Shkupi, Ludogorets Razgrad, and Bodo/Glimt to reach the group stage for the first time since 2019-20.
However, this club reached the quarterfinals of the Europa League in 2020-21 and recorded victories over West Ham United and Sevilla last year.
They have scored no fewer than 22 points and 27 goals in their first eight league games, and Ante Kasic and his team will be delighted to have the chance to end the upset against their Premier League opponents.
Nonetheless, Chelsea is delighted that their hosts have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 games, even if their recent defeat at the Maximilian Stadium had to travel to December.
The two clubs have met for the first time in their history and Chelsea has never faced a Croatian opponent in a competitive match.
Team News
Tuchel could decide now is the right time to keep Eduard Mendy out of the spotlight and start No. 2 Kepa Arrizabalaga this season.
Jorginho will return to midfield and Tuchel is unlikely to turn down Matteo Kovacic's chance to start against his old club.
Ben Chilwell is already ahead of Marc Cucurella, while Mason Mount and Havertz have also been recalled following a substitute game against West Ham.
Denis Zakaria will clash with the midfielder, who is expected to be on the bench but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is adapting to wearing a mask to protect He's unlikely to take a risk with a broken jaw.
Not only did Kasic get an extra day off before this game, but he also led a team with several different players to face Rijeka in a decisive victory over Bodo/Glimt.
However, Kasic was able to return to the starting team against the Norwegians, which ended up beating them 4-1 after extra time.
Mislav Orsic has been a great player again this season, having already scored eight goals in Croatia's top flight and in qualifying for the Champions League.
- Possible starting lineup for Dinamo Zagreb: Livakovic; Ristovsky, Sutalo, Peric, Ljubicic; Spikić, Ademi, Ivanousek, Orsic; Petkovic , Baturina
- Possible Chelsea starting line-up: Arizabalaga; Fofana, Silva, Koulibaly; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Chilwell; Bracket, Sterling; Havertz
We say Dinamo Zagreb 1-3, Chelsea
- We'd be surprised if Chelsea keep a clean sheet on Tuesday night, given the home side's future threat.
- However, the attacking quality of the visiting team may be too high, so we assume a relatively easy win.
Post a Comment