How Chelsea could line-up against Valencia in the Champions League clash

Chelsea mark their return to the Champions League under new manager Frank Lampard with a home tie against Spanish side Valencia on Tuesday, September 17. Valencia and Chelsea have been drawn in the Group H alongside Ajax and Lille. It’s the third time the Blues have come up against the Spanish side in the group stages. In the 2007/08 season,  Chelsea reached the final in Moscow, only to be beaten on penalties by Manchester United after John Terry’s infamous slip. Four years later, during the 2011/12 season, the Blues finally won the Champions League by beating Bayern Munich in their own back yard. Therefore, both times Chelsea have been put in a group with Valencia, they have reached the final. Valencia have been left in disarray with Albert Celades taking charge of the team of their heavy 5-2 defeat to Barcelona on Saturday. The Blues, meanwhile, are looking good after an emphatic victory by the same scoreline against Wolves at Molineux. Chelsea will be missing a number of first-team players for their clash. The injury to Antonio Rudiger means Kurt Zouma should be recalled as one of three central defenders. Marcos Alonso also remains favourite to start. Cesar Azpilicueta should line up on the opposite flank while Fikayo Tomori and Andreas Christensen will retain their starting berths. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a long-term absentee so Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho are most likely to line up in central midfield with the duo preferred to Ross Barkley. Line Up 5-2-3 Line Up 3-4-3

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