Chelsea make a quick return to Champions League action tonight as they host French outfit Rennes at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues opened their Group E campaign with a goalless draw against Sevilla a fortnight ago before Hakim Ziyech starred in a 4-0 thrashing of injury-riddled Krasnodar in Russia last week.
Summer signing Ziyech was hugely impressive again in Saturday’s 3-0 Premier League victory at Burnley and Chelsea will be expected to keep their winning run going against a Rennes side that sit third in Ligue 1 but are without a victory in their maiden Champions League season.
Date, time and venue
Chelsea vs Rennes is scheduled for an 8pm GMT kick-off tonight (Wednesday, November 4, 2020).
The match will be held behind closed doors at Stamford Bridge due to Government guidelines regarding coronavirus.
How to watch
TV channel: The match will be televised live on BT Sport 2 and BT Sport Ultimate, with coverage starting from 7pm.
Live stream: BT Sport subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the video player and the BT Sport app.
Team news
Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic will not play against Rennes, though his latest hamstring injury is only minor
PAA scan on the latest hamstring issue Christian Pulisic sustained while warming up before the win over Burnley has revealed a “minor” injury and will keep him out tonight, though the American is already back working on the training pitch and should be fit for the weekend visit of Sheffield United.
Kepa Arrizabalaga could return to the squad after a shoulder issue, while young midfielder Billy Gilmour is now back in training and building up his fitness after more than three months out following knee surgery.
Meanwhile, £22million Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy faces a quick reunion with the club he left during the recent summer transfer window.
Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Thiago Silva, Zouma, Chilwell, Kante, Jorginho, Mount, Ziyech, Abraham, Werner
Subs: Rudiger, Alonso, Christensen, Caballero, Tomori, Kovacic, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Azpilicueta, Emerson Palmieri, Ziger
Rennes XI: Gomis, Traore, Da Silva, Aguerd, Dalbert, Nzonzi, Gboho, Lea Siliki, Bourigeaud, Terrier, Guirassy
Subs: Salin, Nyamsi, Grenier, Doku, Del Castillo, Hunou, Bonet, Truffert, Assignon, Georginio Rutter, Ugochukwu, Omari
Referee: Felix Zwayer
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Rennes
Though hardly matches against the toughest of opposition, the comfortable, clean-sheet wins over Krasnodar and Burnley suggest that Frank Lampard is beginning to strike a successful balance between his defence and expensively assembled attack.
Though just three points off top spot in Ligue 1, Rennes’ 2-1 win over Brest on Saturday was their first in six matches and they still await their first Champions League three points.
Expect that wait to continue. Straightforward home win.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
These two sides have never met previously in official Uefa competition.
Bettings odds and tips
Chelsea win - â
Rennes win - 10/1
Draw - 5/1
Under 2.5 goals - 7/4
Odds (subject to change) courtesy of Betfair Exchange. Click here to find out more.
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