Graham Potter has revealed Chelsea’s line-up for the Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund. Three weeks ago, the first game against Dortmund was lost 1-0, so the Londoners are faced with a tough task. Hakim Ziyech and Noni Madueke have to settle for a reserve role during the return. Donyell Malen also starts on the bench with the visitors. Sébastien Haller will start. Referee on duty is Danny Makkelie. The match starts at 9 p.m. and can be viewed on RTL 7 and Ziggo Sport.
Kepa Arrizabalaga defends Chelsea’s goal on Tuesday evening. The defense is completed by Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella. In midfield, Reece James (right) and Ben Chilwell (left) cover the flanks. Enzo Fernández and Matteo Kovacic guard control, while Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz and João Félix must provide the offensive impulses. Ziyech and Madueke start on the couch. Haller starts at Dortmund at the point of the attack. He is supported in his back by Marco Reus, who replaces the injured Karim Adeyemi.
After three draws and three defeats, Chelsea finally managed to win again on Saturday. Against Leeds United, a goal from Fofana turned out to be the first three-pointer in the Premier League since January 15. Chelsea needs goals and that has not been obvious in the last eleven matches: the net has only been found four times. Potter has to do without, among others, the injured N’Golo Kanté and Thiago Silva, and the suspended Mason Mount; Christian Pulisic returns to the selection. Due to the elimination in the FA Cup and tenth place in the Premier League, the Champions League is the last remaining opportunity for a trophy this season.
A beautiful poster for Danny Makkelie ???? Good luck in London! ??#CHEBVB #UCL https://t.co/LbUSoL8z8v
— KNVB (@KNVB) March 6, 2023
Dortmund has so far had a significantly better season than Chelsea. The Schwarzgelben lead the dance in the Bundesliga together with Bayern Munich and managed to win their last ten games in a row. Eight of those victories came in the league, which equaled a record: only in the 2011/12 season did BVB to create such a series. Between the wins in the Bundesliga, Chelsea was also defeated. Adeyemi showed Enzo Fernández his heels and scored the only goal in the first leg. However, the 21-year-old German is not there in London, as he suffered a muscle injury against Hertha BSC (4-1 win) four days later.
Chelsea line-up: Kepa, Koulibaly, Fofana, Cucurella; James, Fernandez, Kovacic, Chilwell; Sterling, Havertz, Felix.
Borussia Dortmund line-up: Meyer; Wolf, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro; Can, Ozcan, Bellingham; Brandt, Giant, Haller.