Chelsea’s two-pronged assault on earning Champions League football next season switches to the Europa League on Thursday night when they host Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their last 16 tie.
A top-four spot in the Premier League remains in their own hands despite sitting sixth in the table, with a game in hand providing them the chance to overhaul the two-point gap to fourth.
Further progress in Europe would further help to ease the pressure on Maurizio Sarri, though, and the Blues will be hopeful of building a commanding first-leg lead on Thursday ahead of next week’s trip to Ukraine.
Changes are expected from Chelsea despite back-to-back London derby wins, and that could start in goal with Willy Caballero likely to be given the nod despite the row between Kepa Arrizabalaga and Sarri having now been squashed.
The likes of Andreas Christensen, Emerson Palmieri and Oliver Giroud have largely had to wait for this competition in order to get some first-team football lately, and all three are in line to feature again on Thursday.
Fans will also be hopeful of seeing promising duo Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi, the latter of whom scored in the last round.
As a result of the changes, high-profile players such as Eden Hazard, Gonzalo Higuain and N’Golo Kante could all be rested, although they are likely to be brought along as part of the squad in case Chelsea need help off the bench.
