Chelsea will have their sights set on qualification for the penultimate round of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League when they lock horns with Portuguese giants FC Porto in the quarter-final second leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Spain at 12:30 AM IST.
Winning the Champions League might be the only path back into the competition next season for the Blues. For all the progress under Thomas Tuchel, they sit fifth in the Premier League and face plenty of competition for the top four.
Porto have maintained their winning streak domestically but were meek in the 2-0 first-leg loss, which leaves them with a mountain to climb.
Team news:
Tuchel will make a late decision on N’Golo Kante’s role in the game as the midfielder continues his return from injury. Andreas Christensen is back with the squad but Billy Gilmour has been left at home.
Moussa Marega was rested at the weekend so will come back in for Porto. Diogo Costa, Ivan Marcano and Mouhamed Mbaye are out.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Christensen; James, Kovacic, Kante, Alonso; Ziyech, Mount; Giroud
Porto possible starting lineup:
Marchesin; Manafa, Mbemba, Pepe, Sanusi; Corona, Uribe, Oliveira, Otavio; Marega, Taremi
Prediction:
Chelsea 2-0 FC Porto
After the blip against West Brom, Chelsea have found their footing again and seem to have unlocked their attacking potential as well, as they dispatched Crystal Palace with comfort this past weekend. Porto, however, will pose a much bigger threat, more so now than in the first leg as they have the likes Sergio Oliveira and Mehdi Taremi back.
The Blues, however, have time and again shown their defensive resilience under Thomas Tuchel over the past few months and that should come to the fore again, allowing them to ease to another win and book a place in the UEFA Champions League semi-final.
Porto in our sights! 🎯👀#PORCHE #UCL pic.twitter.com/Z5SAsIxhhw
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 6, 2021