Chelsea take on Dinamo Zagreb in a match which carries little on field significance with the West London club confirmed as Group E winners and their path to the knock-out stages secured. But, a week is a long time in football and what previously appeared to be a fixture that would act as a run out for some of Chelsea's second or third string, now holds a degree of expectation, with Graham Potter's men needing a win, for pride rather than points. 

With just four games remaining before the season breaks for the Fifa World Cup 2022, Chelsea will be looking to enter the pause in play on a high, and with difficult games coming against Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle United, all of whom are currently placed above Chelsea in the Premier League table, the match against Zagreb is their most winnable on paper. But as Thomas Tuchel learned, Zagreb can spring a surprise.

Team News

Chelsea

That isn't to say that we won't see wholesale from Chelsea on Wednesday night. With Kepa Arrizabalaga picking up an injury in the crushing defeat to Brighton, we should expect to see Edouard Mendy starting a match for the first time under his new manager Potter. Armando Broja and Carney Chukwuemeka are also likely starters, with Chukwuemeka yet to do so in a game for his new club, and Broja yet to do so in a Champions League fixture, having made three substitute appearances in the group so far. Denis Zakaria, who is yet to feature for Chelsea following his loan signing from Juventus, could receive his first minutes in a blue shirt, with Potter looking to rotate his squad ahead of some tricky upcoming games.

Graham Potter will take charge of only his fifth <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/10/30/premier-league/1128048-liverpool-continue-to-take-one-step-forward-and-two-back.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/10/30/premier-league/1128048-liverpool-continue-to-take-one-step-forward-and-two-back.html'>Champions League</a></strong> fixture Creator: Darren Walsh  |  Credit: Chelsea FC via Getty Images Copyright: 2022 Chelsea FC
Graham Potter will take charge of only his fifth Champions League fixture Creator: Darren Walsh | Credit: Chelsea FC via Getty Images Copyright: 2022 Chelsea FC

Players that are likely to receive a rest ahead, with Chelsea facing four games in the space of just ten days, are veteran Thiago Silva and Mateo Kovacic, who has been carrying a knee injury. English midfield duo Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher are both one yellow card away from a suspension but may still feature. Defender Kalidou Koulibaly is unlikely to be risked as he returns from injury.

Potter will look to include experience throughout his side, balanced with young potential and could use the game to give confidence to some players where it is needed. With a game against Arsenal up next for Chelsea following this Champions League tie, they could hope that the match might provide former Gunner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with an opportunity to re-find his scoring form. 

Only Roberto Di Matteo has won his first five Champions League matches as Chelsea manager, and Potter will be looking to follow in the Italian's footsteps, especially if they lead him to the final, as they did Di Matteo in 2012 as the London side were crowned champions.

Dinamo Zagreb

Dinamo Zagreb sit top of the Croatian HNL with 11 wins out of 14 games but are on a poor run of form, having won just one of their last six fixtures across all competitions and having lost their last two matches.

In Group E it has all been downhill since their opening day win against Chelsea, picking up just one point in their subsequent games with a draw against Red Bull Salzburg and they sit bottom of the group, though just two points behind Salzburg. 

<strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/10/20/premier-league/1126914-four-things-we-learnt-from-brentfords-west-london-derby-draw-with-chelsea.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/10/20/premier-league/1126914-four-things-we-learnt-from-brentfords-west-london-derby-draw-with-chelsea.html'>Armando Broja</a></strong> will be looking to score his first <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/10/30/premier-league/1128048-liverpool-continue-to-take-one-step-forward-and-two-back.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/10/30/premier-league/1128048-liverpool-continue-to-take-one-step-forward-and-two-back.html'>Champions League</a></strong> goal against <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2022/09/07/champions-league/1122573-uefa-champions-league-matchday-1-team-of-the-week.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2022/09/07/champions-league/1122573-uefa-champions-league-matchday-1-team-of-the-week.html'>Dinamo Zagreb</a></strong>. Creator: Pixsell/MB Media  |  Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2022 Pixsell/MB Media
Armando Broja will be looking to score his first Champions League goal against Dinamo Zagreb. Creator: Pixsell/MB Media | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2022 Pixsell/MB Media

Zagreb can no longer qualify for the next stages of Europe's elite club competition and the best that the club from the Croatian capital can hope for is not to finish bottom of the group. This could be achieved if they can manage a win at Stamford Bridge and do an unexpected double over Chelsea, and rely on Salzburg to lose to AC Milan. If they did manage this, they would be in with a chance of qualifying for the UEFA Europa League and salvaging something from their campaign.

However, Dinamo have not won an away game in the UEFA Champions League in 24 years and therefore their chances of inflicting Chelsea's first home defeat of the season, appear unlikely. Winger Mislav Orsic, who scored the goal which sank Chelsea and Tuchel back in September remains Zagreb's best attacking threat. 

Line-Up Predictions

Chelsea


Mendy; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Cucurella; Chukwuemeka, Jorginho, Zakaria, Chilwell; Ziyech, Aubameyang; Broja

Dinamo Zagreb


Livakovic; Ristovski, Peric, J. Sutalo; Moharrami, Ademi, Misic, Ivanusec, Ljubicic; Orsic, Petkovic

Key Players

Chelsea - Armando Broja

Dinamo Zagreb - Mislav Orsic

Match Details

Where is the game being played?

Stamford Bridge Stadium, London

What time is kick-off?

8pm UK time

How can I watch?

Live on BT Sport 



 

 

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