The Champions League is Chelsea's last chance
Chelsea welcome Borussia (Dortmund) in the second leg of the round of 16 in the Champions League after losing the first leg 0-1. Graham Potter's side will be going all out to progress in the tournament, which is their only chance to achieve something meaningful this season.
The Londoners have played extremely hesitantly since the beginning of the year, but at the weekend they broke their negative streak with a win against Leeds, which instilled some confidence in the players ahead of today's clash.
Borussia is one of the most in-form teams in Europe. Karim Adeyemi earned the narrow win against Chelsea at Signal Iduna Park, but the Germans were also lucky enough to keep a clean sheet.
Head coach Edin Terzic saw another strong performance from his players a few days ago as the Yellow and Blacks beat RB Leipzig 2-1 in the Bundesliga to record their tenth straight win in all competitions since the 2022 World Cup break.
Borussia is one of the most in-form teams in Europe. Karim Adeyemi earned the narrow win against Chelsea at Signal Iduna Park, but the German side were also lucky enough to keep a clean sheet.
Head coach Edin Terzic saw another strong performance from his players a few days ago as the Yellow and Blacks beat RB Leipzig 2-1 in the Bundesliga to record their tenth straight win in all competitions since the 2022 World Cup break.
Graham Potter will again be without the services of half a dozen first-team players, but Christian Pulisic and Reece James have resumed training with the core group and will be available to the London manager.
Mason Mount is suspended and will not play and Kai Havertz, Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling will almost certainly start up front. Ruben Loftus-Cheek will remain on the bench if James is ready to start from the first minute. Ben Chilwell will start on the other flank, and Enzo Fernandez and Mateo Kovacic will partner in the midfield.
Borussia's personnel problems are linked to injuries to Yusufa Mukoko and first-leg goalscorer Adeyemi and the suspension of right-back Julian Rierson, who will be replaced by Maruis Wolff. The titular goalkeeper Gregor Kobel did not play against RB Leipzig, and it is possible that tonight he will be among the reserves, and Alexander Meier will stand under the frame. In attack, Julian Brandt, Sebastian Aller and Marco Reus are expected to start.
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