Premier League giants Chelsea will be looking to secure progress into the quarterfinals of this season’s UEFA Champions League when they welcome Bayern Munich to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. The last professional encounter between the two clubs occurred in the final of the 2012 edition of the competition in a rather historic meeting where the side from West London, against all the odds, emerged victorious.
The Blues will now be looking to give Frank Lampard something positive to look back to from his first piece of Champions League knockout action as a manager. Having been part of the team that lifted the trophy back in 2012, Lampard will surely have fond memories of facing this strong Munich side. The recent league win against Spurs showcased Chelsea at their dominant best in the middle of the park, and replicating that could be of immense importance during this tie.
Team News
The biggest misses for Lampard going into what promises to be a crucial fixture in their campaign, are those of Christian Pulisic and N’Golo Kante. The duo have both been diagnosed with adductor problems, and the manager hasn’t been able to provide the media with even a realistic return date. Marco Van Ginkel is still out of contention, while Callum Hudson-Odoi isn’t expected back until the weekend either.
Predicted 4-3-3 Chelsea Lineup Vs Bayern Munich
Formation: 4-3-3
Defence
Argentine veteran Willy Caballero has displayed himself in a half-decent light over the last few weeks but is unlikely to start in midweek against Bayern. Expect to see Spanish shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga returning in between the sticks. Although Lampard opted to move to a back three against Spurs, the Blues should set up on Tuesday night with a standard flat back-four. Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger could continue as the two main centre-halves, while Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta should be deployed as the full-back options.
Midfield
Ross Barkley put in a quite brilliant display against Tottenham in midweek, and the Englishman is likely to keep his place in the side for this fixture. The untimely injury to Kante couldn’t have come at a better time for some Chelsea players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who could be in line for an appearance off the bench after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Alongside Barkley, expect to see the familiar faces of Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic completing the Chelsea midfield.
Attack
The absence of Hudson-Odoi in the wide areas could force Lampard into deploying Mason Mount in one of the advanced positions this midweek. Pedro has been massively underwhelming every time he’s taken to the pitch, while Willian remains their only other realistic winger option. Expect to see Mount being partnered in the wide areas by the aforementioned Willian, with Tammy Abraham acting as the lone striker for this fixture.
