Prediction: Chelsea vs Sevilla

Verdict: Sevilla double chance

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Unibet

With the Champions League making its return in midweek, Chelsea will welcome Europa League winners Sevilla to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

Chelsea

Starting with the hosts, while Chelsea might have entered the international break earlier in the month with a 4-0 romp against Crystal Palace in West London, the former Premier League champions once again showed their issues over the weekend. Throwing away the lead on two occasions, Frank Lampard’s side eventually had to settle for another stunning 3-3 draw as they watched Southampton grab a last-gasp equalizer at Stamford Bridge. Now managing to win just one of their last four matchups across all competitions after also seeing bitter rivals Spurs knock them out of the EFL Cup on their travels last month, the former England midfielder will have a growing headache over his side’s worrying inconsistencies. Also having to come from 3-0 down away at top-flight returners West Brom and managing to leave the Hawthorns with a hugely dramatic point, Chelsea have conceded an average of 1.5 goals per game in the Premier League under Lampard, the Blues’ worst rate under any boss to oversee more than one game in the competition.

Team News

Chelsea will be without goalkeeper Edouard Mendy who has a thigh injury, so Lampard must decide whether to stick with under-fire Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal or bring in Willy Caballero.

Elsewhere, in a boost for the Blues, Thiago Silva will feature after missing their 3-3 daw against Southampton over the weekend.

Sevilla

As for the visitors, while Sevilla might have opened the new La Liga campaign still boosted by their stunning Europa League success out on Germany over the summer, the Spanish outfit will be hoping for an immediate response after a shock defeat on their travels over the weekend. Hit with their first domestic defeat since way back in February, Julen Lopetegui’s men suffered a 1-0 loss away at Granada, a result that brought an abrupt end to their remarkable 18-match domestic unbeaten run. However still enjoying what has been a real resurge in 2020 and really fancying their chances in a group that consists of both Rennes and Krasnodar, the one-time Spain boss will be hoping for Luuk de Jong to lead their charge in West London. Along with bagging a brace in Sevilla’s stunning 3-2 victory against Inter Milan over the summer, the former Newcastle striker has already opened his La Liga account for the New Year and should be relishing a chance to get at a leaky Chelsea defence.

Team News

Aside from defender Jules Kounde who tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Tuesday’s trip to West London, Sevilla have no other injuries or suspensions to worry about.

Key Factors to Consider

• Playing out a 3-3 draw against Southampton over the weekend, Chelsea have managed to win just one of their last four matchups across all competitions.
• Four of Chelsea’s five Premier League matchups so far this season have seen over 2.5 goals by the final whistle.
• Chelsea have conceded an average of 1.5 goals per game in the Premier League under Frank Lampard, the Blues’ worst rate under any boss to oversee more than one game in the competition.
• Sevilla’s 1-0 defeat against Granada over the weekend was their first domestic defeats since February.
• Including a brace against Inter Milan in their 3-2 Europa League final win over the summer, Luuk de Jong has five goals in his last six matchups for Sevilla.

Conclusion

While Sevilla might have suffered their first domestic defeat since February away at Granada over the weekend, the Spanish outfit will be confident of causing an upset on foreign soil in midweek. Watching Chelsea once again show their glaring underlying issues on Saturday afternoon as they saw Southampton come from behind twice and grab a last-gasp equalizer in their 3-3 draw, the Premier League outfit have a host of problems at the back. Managing to win just one of their last four contests across all formats, the recently crowned Europa League winners will be smelling a real chance at Stamford Bridge. Despite opening up Tuesday’s meeting as an underdog with the bookmakers, don’t be surprised to see Sevilla leave the capital with something to show for themselves.

Verdict: Sevilla double chance

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Unibet