Chelsea welcome Atletico Madrid in a defining game in the early stages of the Thomas Tuchel era.
The Blues hold a 1-0 advantage on aggregate in the Champions League last 16 tie, with Olivier Giroud’s sublime strike in the first leg enough to separate the sides.
FOLLOW LIVE: Teams, build-up and all the action as Chelsea host Atletico
Diego Simeone’s side are still top of La Liga and will be tasked with going against their instinct in this second leg, due to their deficit.
The Blues remain unbeaten under their German coach, but the attack is still to fire properly, with Leeds blanking them at Elland Road last weekend.
Atleti were also unable to break through last time out, with 10-man Getafe earning a goalless draw, meaning Barcelona were able to trim the gap at the top of the table to just four points.
Tuchel anticipates a similar test to the first leg in Bucharest, while describing the Spaniards as “complete”: “I expect more or less the same as in Bucharest. They have Trippier, Carrasco and Gimenez back. Lemar, Llorente available in the half positions that changes the approach but in general I expect more or less the same. A team that is hard to play against, find spaces behind the last lines and for sure super hard to create chances against.
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“I believe that every club has its DNA and characteristics. With Simeone they are one of the toughest teams to beat, this is their characteristic, discipline and hard working, organised defence. They have incredible quality to attack and to play a possession game, they are a complete squad.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the Champions League tie:
When and where is it?
The game will kick off at 20:00 GMT at Stamford Bridge, London.
How can I watch it?
The match will air live on BT Sport, and subscribers can also stream it live on the broadcaster’s website and app. Coverage for this game begins at 19:00 GMT on BT Sport 2.
Confirmed line-ups
Chelsea: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Zouma; James, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Havertz, Ziyech, Werner
Atletico: Oblak; Trippier, Savic, Gimenez, Lodi; Llorente, Koke, Saul, Carrasco; Joao Felix, Suarez
Odds
Chelsea: 6/5
Draw: 21/10
Atletico: 12/5
Prediction
This is finely poised and may play games with the instincts of both managers, the way Tuchel has shuffled the pack in recent weeks has been designed to maintain high intensity throughout this testing schedule. If they can hold off a charge from El Cholo’s side, it will likely legitimise dismissing Frank Lampard, if it hasn’t already. Atleti are unbeaten in four since the Chelsea defeat, including a win at Villarreal and a stalemate with rivals Real Madrid. We expect them to be able to score at the Bridge, given the urgency required relating to the tie as a whole and their deficit, but we’ll lean towards a 1-1 draw on the night and the hosts edging through to the last eight.
