Chelsea vs. Maribor: How the Blues Should Line Up in Champions League Game

Chelsea welcome Champions League newcomers NK Maribor to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night for the third match in Group G. The Blues are top of the group with four points from a possible six, but the visitors have performed better than expected so far. They managed to hold Schalke 04 and Sporting Lisbon to 1-1 draws and will put up a good fight in London.

Jose Mourinho was pleased with the performance that saw his side cement their place at the top of the Premier League this weekend, but he was candid in revealing that his squad is suffering from a mini injury crisis. Speaking to the official Chelsea website, Mourinho said:

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For Tuesday I cannot make lots of changes because I cannot break the balance of the team. I can make a couple.

I don’t think I can recover any players. I don’t think Ramires or [Andre] Schurrle will be available. Diego [Costa] for sure is not available. The players I have are the players I have today so I don’t have a lot to change, but I’m going to make a couple of changes. It’s a very important match for us to try and finish the first matches with seven points.

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Maintaining the balance of the squad is likely to see Petr Cech on the sideline again, with Thibaut Courtois continuing in goal. Branislav Ivanovic will continue at right-back with Gary Cahill and John Terry at centre-half. Cesar Azpilicueta is almost certain to start as the red card he picked up against Crystal Palace will see him suspended for Sunday’s trip to Manchester United.

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As Ramires is still unavailable, Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas should continue their central midfield partnership. The pair have become the engine room of Chelsea’s first-choice XI this season, completing an average of 157 passes per game between them, while Fabregas has also scored two goals, per WhoScored.com.

The attacking trio behind the striker is likely to start out strong, with Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian. Mourinho will want them to put the game out of reach, before introducing Mohamed Salah in the second half with one eye on Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford.

Upfront, Chelsea’s top-scoring striker Diego Costa is suffering the ill effects of international duty and will be unavailable for this match. Mourinho took a stab at the Spanish medical department, telling the press (via Miguel Delaney of The Independent):

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I have no idea [when he can play]. The only thing I can say is that he went to the national team. He played two big matches against Slovakia and Luxembourg, and he came back in condition where he’s not available to play for his club. I think he will be in great conditions in mid-November to be back for the national team. That is for sure. Our medical department will take good care of him and he will be in perfect condition. He will play for me when he has free-time from the national team.

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Costa being unavailable is a blow to the Blues, but it led to 17-year-old Dominic Solanke being included in the squad to face Crystal Palace on Saturday. Whether he will get an opportunity in a game that Chelsea need to win remains to be seen, but he should be given a chance ahead of Didier Drogba.

Per the Mail Online, Mourinho described the 36-year-old as the best player on the pitch when he came on in the closing stages of Saturday’s Premier League clash, but his previous outing against Schalke in the Champions League highlighted how his age has impacted his ability to play the full 90 minutes. Loic Remy should instead start upfront, with Solanke available from the bench.

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Maribor have already caused upsets in their first two games, and they will see a draw with Chelsea as the ultimate scalp. The Blues must ensure that they guard against the complacency that saw them drop points against similar teams last season if they are to secure their progress into the knockout stages.