Chelsea will tonight again be without Cole Palmer for their high-profile Champions League showdown against Barcelona.
The England attacker had been close to returning after two months out with the persistent groin injury that has plagued him all season, only to sustain a fractured little toe on his left foot after stubbing it on a door in an accident at home last week.
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Palmer has been working with a specially adapted boot that includes more cushion to try and protect the toe and hasten his comeback, though he won’t be ready to face Barcelona and remains a doubt for Sunday’s clash with leaders Arsenal in the Premier League.
However, he was seen taking part in team training at Cobham on Monday afternoon.
Chelsea made it through Saturday’s 2-0 win against Burnley without picking up any fresh injuries as Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto and Benoit Badiashile were all passed fit.
Head coach Enzo Maresca was able to manage the workloads of Reece James and Joao Pedro, with the right-back only playing 45 minutes at Turf Moor and the Brazilian forward substituted in the second half.
Moises Caicedo returns to the side after being left on the bench throughout against Burnley following his international exertions with Ecuador. It was the first time that the midfielder had not featured in a Premier League game under Maresca.
Caicedo’s return sees Andrey Santos moved back to the bench on tonight, with Reece James slotting into midfield.
That therefore means Malo Gusto at right-back, and Marc Cucurella completes the back four.
At centre-back, Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah started at Turf Moor. Wesley Fofana was left out altogether to manage his body and mitigate the risk of any new injuries, but the Frenchman makes a return here, partnering Chalobah as Tosin drops to the bench.
Estevao Willian was an unused substitute at the weekend and starts here, following his sparkling form for club and country in recent weeks. Alejandro Garnacho is fresh having not gone away with Argentina this month, and he gets the nod on the left.
Maresca has decided to play neither Joao Pedro nor Liam Delap up top, instead plumping for Pedro Neto as a false nine.
It leaves Joao Pedro and Delap amongst the substitutes, with Enzo Fernandez as the No10.
Dario Essugo, Levi Colwill and Romeo Lavia are all out with longer-term injuries.
Starting Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, James; Estevao, Fernandez, Garnacho; Neto
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Hato, Badiashile, Santos. Buonanotte, Gittens, George, Guiu, Joao Pedro, Delap
Injured: Palmer, Essugo, Colwill, Lavia
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Tuesday November 25, 2025
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
How to watch: Amazon Prime Video
