Chelsea v Barcelona: Confirmed line-ups as Estevao goes head-to-head with Yamal
Chelsea host Barcelona in the Champions League tonight. Get the team news here...
Chelsea and Barcelona will look to make a significant move towards securing a top-eight finish in the Champions League when they clash at Stamford Bridge this evening.
Both teams have seven points from their four games and sit in the playoff places.
Enzo Maresca’s side were efficient if unspectacular in winning 2-0 at Burnley on Saturday while Barca were more impressive in dismantling 10-man Athletic Bilbao at the revamped Camp Nou a few hours later.
“They’re playing in an amazing way; you always learn from Barca,” said Maresca. “The way they attack, the way they defend, they won the league last season. So they are a good team and they always have the initiative and we will try to do the same on our side.”
The last time Chelsea faced a member of the European elite in this competition was on matchday one when they were beaten 3-1 by Bayern Munich.
“I think we are a better team since the day we played Bayern away, but every game is different,” added the Italian. “For me, personally, the team is getting better day after day.”
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CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer once again as he continues to nurse the toe injury he sustained in an accident at home.
Estevao is once again the poster boy for the Blues, as he heads up against Lamine Yamal in the battle of a generation.
Moises Caicedo is back in the team, with Reece James as always, entrusted to lead Chelsea out under the lights.
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella, James, Caicedo, Estevao, Enzo, Garnacho, Neto
BARCELONA TEAM NEWS
Midfield lynchpin Pedri is definitely out but Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Balde and Frenkie de Jong return to the squad.
Rashford missed the Athletic game due to a heavy cold, Balde received a blow to the head in the same game while De Jong was suspended.
While the on loan Manchester United man is back involved, he is only fit enough for the bench against his old Premier League foes.
Barcelona: Garcia, Balde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Kounde, E. Garcia, De Jong, Lopez, Torres, Lewandowski, Yamal
How to watch Chelsea v Barcelona: TV and online streams
Chelsea versus Barcelona kicks off tonight at 8pm UK time. You can watch it in the UK on Amazon Prime and stream it on the Amazon Prime Video app.
It is available via local Champions League rights holders in other countries, including the United States.
Stats for Chelsea v Barcelona
- Chelsea have only lost one of their last nine meetings with Barcelona in the Champions League
- Since 2013-14, Barcelona have only lost two of their nine away games against English sides in the Champions League (W6 D1)
- English teams have won nine of their last 10 games against Spanish sides in the Champions League (L1), with the only exception being Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Newcastle in September