Sevilla vs Chelsea confirmed line-ups: Team news ahead of Champions League fixture tonight

Chelsea striker Timo Werner (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea striker Timo Werner (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Chelsea face a tough Champions League test away to Sevilla in a game that will likely settle which of the two teams win Group E.

Both teams have proven their worth already to brush off Krasnodar and Rennes, booking a place among the last 16, while nullifying each other in a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.

That result, despite being at home, thrilled Frank Lampard, as it sparked a revival defensively, which has now become a trend this season, with six clean sheets from eight games since.

The Europa League champions will hope to send a message with a win here to show they have completed their graduation to the top tier and can be treated as a legitimate threat to win the competition outright.

Chelsea will hope to carry on their recent momentum after a draw with Tottenham ensured they remained third in the Premier League, though improvements in Europe can be made after relying on a late Olivier Giroud strike against Rennes to secure victory.

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Here are the predicted line-ups and team news for the game:

<p>Giroud celebrates with teammates after his winner against Rennes</p>EPA

Giroud celebrates with teammates after his winner against Rennes

EPA

When is the game?

The match kicks off at 8pm on Wednesday, 2 December at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.

Where can I watch it?

The game will be shown live on BT Sport 3 and BT Sport Ultimate. Subscribers can stream the match via the BT Sport app and desktop website.

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Team news

Bono has tested positive for Covid-19, so Tomas Vaclik will be in goal, Karim Rekik will replace the injured Sergio Escudero at left-back, while Suso could miss this one with a knock. Lucas Ocampos and Luuk De Jong are also injury doubts.

Christian Pulisic made his return from injury against Spurs on Sunday, but this game could be too soon for a start. Kai Havertz is in a similar situation, but could come back into the line-up. Cesar Azpilicueta is likely to get another start, though it is unclear whether it will be at right-back in place of Reece James, or at left-back to hand Ben Chilwell a rest, given the England international’s injuries this season.

<p>Lampard watches on during the first game with Sevilla</p>Getty

Lampard watches on during the first game with Sevilla

Getty

Olivier Giroud scored the winner at Rennes and is in need of minutes to persuaded him to stay at Chelsea beyond January, while Frank Lampard will have to decide whether Thiago Silva can play two games in four days here or whether to rest the Brazilian to face Leeds this weekend.

Confirmed line-ups

Sevilla XI: Vaclík; Jesús Navas, Sergi Gómez, Diego Carlos, Rekik; Vázquez, Gudelj, Rakitic; Idrissi, En-Nesyri, Óscar

Chelsea XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Rüdiger, Christensen, Emerson; Jorginho, Kovacic, Havertz; Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Pulisic

Odds

Sevilla: 7/4

Draw: 12/5

Chelsea: 6/4

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Prediction

Chelsea have the pace on the break to hurt Sevilla, particularly if Werner starts as the No 9, but the disruption to the back four and the hosts pushing for a win to snatch control of the group could lead to a score draw, with their added threat compared to Rennes likely to punish any similar lapses in concentration this time - and likely long before the 85th minute when Serhou Guirassy equalised last week. Sevilla 1-1 Chelsea.

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