Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
JAMES OLLEY

Chelsea vs Valencia lineups: Confirmed team news and starting XIs for Champions League opener

Frank Lampard sprang a surprise at Wolves last weekend when switching to a three-man defence for the first time as Chelsea head coach.

Despite Antonio Rudiger’s absence against Valencia with a groin problem, he persists with that shape for his Champions League managerial debut with Kurt Zouma coming in.

Marcus Alonso continues on the left with Emerson unavailable while the match also comes too soon for N’Golo Kante and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Willian made his first start of the campaign at Molineux and continues in attack, with Tammy Abraham also retaining his place following the first hat-trick of his Chelsea career.

Fresh from making his England debut during the recent international break, Mason Mount also starts in a more advanced wide left position he has occupied in recent games.

Team news and lineups

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Zouma, Christensen, Tomori, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Willian, Mount, Abraham

Subs: Barkley, Pedro, Caballero, Giroud, Pulisic, Batshuayi, Guehi

Valencia: Cillessen, Wass, Garay, Gabriel, Gaya, Coquelin, Parejo, Kondogbia, Cheryshev, Rodrigo, Gameiro

Subs: Domenech Jaume, Costa Jaume, Goncalo Guedes, Diakhaby, Lee, Torres, Gomez

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.