Chelsea are heading into the match on the back of a 1-0 Premier League win over Newcastle while Lille were held to a goalless draw by St-Etienne in Ligue 1.
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Chelsea will be aiming to move one step closer to defending their Champions League crown, when they take on Lille in the last-16 second leg fixture at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday. The Blues claimed a comfortable 2-0 win in the first leg at Stamford Bridge and will once again aim to continue their impressive performance amid the off-the-field unprecedented circumstances. Chelsea are heading into the match on the back of a 1-0 Premier League win over Newcastle while Lille were held to a goalless draw by St-Etienne in Ligue 1.
In the first leg fixture in London last month, Kai Havertz put the Blues ahead inside the opening eight minutes before a second half strike from Christian Pulisic sealed Chelsea’s victory. Thomas Tuchel’s side dominated the entire 90 minutes to put one foot firmly in the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite competition.
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Meanwhile Lille’s defence has been solid in the domestic league, having kept five consecutive clean sheets in the last five matches. Jocelyn Gourvennec’s Ligue 1 champions have developed a defensive resilience and will be aiming to turn around the tie against the much fancied English giants. Lille’s only previous appearance in the last-16 also ended in defeat at the hands of Premier League opposition in Manchester United back in 2007.
Meanwhile Despite all the financial problems because of sanctions on owner Roman Abramovic, Chelse aboss Thomas Tuchel has affirmed that his side will travel to Lille to finish the job no matter what. Chelsea are on an impressive form, having won their last three games, scoring eight goals and conceding just one. In the previous match against Newcastle, Kai Hartz’s lat goal sealed all three points for the Blues.
Lille doesn’t have too many injury problems as Renato Sanches is the only notable absentee while the rest of the squad is fit and available for selection. Benjamin Andre is back from illness in time for the second leg. Xeka will hold his place in the midfield alongside andre.
As for chelsea, Ben Chilwell remains absent for the long-term, but Cesar Azpilicueta is back from illness and could be handed a place in the starting eleven. Thiago Silva is expected to be back in the heart of the defence after being given a rest against Newcastle.
Tuchel is unlikely to make too many changes to the team that got the job done in the first leg. Therefore Havertz, Hakim Ziyech and Pulisic will form the front-three and Romelu Lukaaku may once again start on the bench.
