Chelsea predicted lineup vs Malmo - Champions League

Thomas Tuchel has decisions to make
Thomas Tuchel has decisions to make / Clive Rose/GettyImages
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Chelsea will head into Wednesday's meeting with Malmo looking for an emphatic victory to get their Champions League campaign back on track.

Thomas Tuchel's men fell to Juventus last time out but will demand a victory here against a Malmo side who sit rock bottom of Group H after shipping seven goals in their opening two European games.

Here's how the boss could set up.


1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Edouard Mendy
Mendy was incredible against Brentford / Craig Mercer/MB Media/GettyImages

Edouard Mendy (GK) - The hero of the Brentford win, Mendy could hardly deserve to start more if he tried.

Andreas Christensen (CB) - Christensen is playing some elite stuff once again and is among the first names on the team sheet.

Thiago Silva (CB) - Missed the Brentford game after a late return from international duty so should have fresh legs.

Malang Sarr (CB) - Antonio Rudiger is back in training, but Sarr did well against Brentford and deserves more minutes while the German recovers.

2. Midfielders

Kai Havertz
Havertz could return / Nicolò Campo/GettyImages

Reece James (RM) - A late substitute against Brentford, James is ready for more minutes as he recovers from an ankle injury.

Saul Niguez (CM) - N'Golo Kante's skills probably aren't needed for this one, so the Frenchman should be rested and replaced by Saul, who needs another chance to prove his worth to Tuchel.

Jorginho (CM) - Jorginho has lost his spot in the squad recently and will be desperate to get it back with a good performance here.

Marcos Alonso (LM) - Ben Chilwell absolutely deserves a start but may well be rested in this one.

Mason Mount (AM) - Mount's urgency in the press was missing against Juventus, so Tuchel won't want to be without him this time.

Kai Havertz (AM) - Minutes have been hard to come by for Havertz recently and he could do with a start here, particularly as Chelsea's forwards haven't been particularly impressive of late.

3. Forward

Romelu Lukaku
Lukaku could do with a goal / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

Romelu Lukaku (ST) - Lukaku needs a goal to get himself out of this mini-slump, and he'll be hopeful of banging one or two past Malmo.