Chelsea vs PAOK
Chelsea’s Europa League odyssey begins in Greece as Maurizio Sarri’s Blues travel to face PAOK in Thursday night’s Group L opener.
A disappointing 2017-18 Premier League campaign cost Antonio Conte his job and leaves Chelsea outside of the Champions League for the first time since 2013.
The upshot of a poor season is that new coach Sarri’s tactics show promise at Stamford Bridge, and the last time the Blues competed in the Europa League, they ended up winning the 2012-13 competition.
PAOK predicted Xl: Paschalakis, Veirinha, Crespo, Varela, Kitsiou, Mauricio, Canas, Liminos, Pelkas, Kaddouri, Prijovic
PAOK injuries/ doubts: Junior Stanislas Out / Marc Pugh Out / Lys Mousset Out
Chelsea Predicted XI: Caballero, Zappacosta, Christensen, Cahill, Alonso, Barkley, Ampadu, Drinkwater, Moses, Morata, Willian
Chelsea Injuries/doubts: Ruben Loftus-Cheek Out/ Emerson Doubtful / Kovacic Doubtful / Fabregas Doubtful /
Opta Stats
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Chelsea’s last 6 games (UEFA Europa League).
- Chelsea have scored at least 2 goals in their last 6 matches (UEFA Europa League).
- Chelsea have won 5 of their last 6 matches (UEFA Europa League).
Players to watch: Willian & Prijovic
Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 PAOK