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How Chelsea could line up against Slavia Prague

Sports Mole looks at how Chelsea could line up for Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Slavia Prague at the Sinobo Stadium.

Chelsea have a quick turnaround to contend with when they face Slavia Prague in the Czech capital on Thursday night, having been in Premier League action on Monday.

The Blues beat West Ham United to climb up to third in the table, albeit having played a game more than the other three teams battling for a top-four spot this season.

A resounding victory over Dynamo Kiev in the last round saw Chelsea installed as favourites to go all the way and lift the Europa League trophy, and Slavia Prague are a team they will be expected to beat over two legs.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Maurizio Sarri could line his side up for the first of those at the Sinobo Stadium.



Possible CHE XI vs. SLA

Out: Ethan Ampadu (back), Marco van Ginkel (knee)
Doubtful: Marcos Alonso (hamstring)

> Click here for Chelsea's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Chelsea will be wary of complacency, but Sarri should be able to rotate his pack on Thursday and still field a team which will be favourites to put them in the driving seat for the tie.

Key players such as N'Golo Kante, Jorginho and Eden Hazard - the latter of whom dazzled against West Ham - could be rested with one eye on Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Callum Hudson-Odoi's stock has risen to the point where he may be one of the players given a night off after consecutive Premier League starts, with Willian and Pedro both pushing for returns in the wide areas.

Olivier Giroud - who scored a hat-trick in the last round - is expected to lead the line after Gonzalo Higuain started on Monday night, while Ross Barkley, Mateo Kovacic and Andreas Christensen are among the other players who could be handed starts by Sarri.

Marcos Alonso is expected to be available to return at left-back after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury, while on the opposite flank Cesar Azpilicueta could be given a rest with Davide Zappacosta set to replace him.

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Who will win Thursday's first leg between Slavia Prague and Chelsea?

Slavia Prague
Draw
Chelsea
Slavia Prague
8.8%
Draw
7.0%
Chelsea
84.2%
Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates Chelsea's third goal of the game against Dynamo Kiev on March 7, 2019
Read Next:
How Chelsea could line up against Dynamo Kiev
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool33257175205582
2Manchester CityMan City32262483216280
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs332211064343067
4Chelsea33206757342366
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd33197762431964
6Arsenal32196765402563
7Leicester CityLeicester34145154645147
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33138124142-147
9Everton34137144644246
10Watford32137124747046
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham34126164151-1042
12Bournemouth34125174961-1241
13Crystal Palace33116163943-439
14Burnley34116174260-1839
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle34108163243-1138
16Southampton3399153954-1536
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3296173251-1933
18Cardiff CityCardiff3384212863-3528
RFulham3455243276-4420
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3435261967-4814

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