On Tuesday night, from 20:00, Chelsea and FK Krasnodar meet on Stamford Bridge, in the last stage of the UEFA Champions League groups. Frank Lampard has almost the entire team at his disposal, except for Ziyech, while the Russians are without Petrov and Stotsky, injured. Chelsea is the favorite to win, being already qualified for the next phase.
Therefore, the match is announced to be an open one, because the Russians can no longer escape the place of the Europa League, in favor of Rennes. The French made a modest figure in their Champions League debut and scored only two goals, with a draw and four defeats.
Chelsea leads the group with four victories and an active draw (goal difference 13-1). In the Londoners’ camp, Olivier Giroud, the team’s top scorer, could appear again as a starter, with 5 successes. But it is also an opportunity for the English to test players and tactical strategies.
The stake of victory has only symbolic value for white-blues. For the first time since 2010, Chelsea could win five games in a row in the Champions League! For about two years now, Lampard’s team has often been involved in very spectacular matches. Krasnodar is also “friendly” with goal betting, and the white-greens tend to score and score often at the end of the match. However, the visitors have a modest record in away matches, with only one point accumulated in the last six games on foreign soil, in the championship and in UCL.
Chelsea have scored 18 goals in their last 7 matches against Russian teams, with an average of 2.57 scored per game. Roman Abramovich’s club has excellent statistics against Russian teams, and the “tradition” could be kept in the duel on Stamford Bridge. In the round it was 4-0 for Chelsea, with goals from Hudson-Odoi (’37), Werner (’76), Ziyech (’79) and Pulisic (’90). It was a match without history, in which the stakes were very high for both teams. Now, however, you can play more relaxed, so moments of lack of concentration are more likely.
Chelsea come after good results in the league, where they recently defeated Newcastle (2-0), Tottenham (0-0) and Leeds United (3-1). Against Leeds, Chelsea conceded a goal in the 4th minute from Bamford (former London player), but Giroud (’27), Zouma (’61) and Pulisic (’90 +3) returned the score. In UCL, Chelsea comes after successes with Rennes (2-1) and Sevilla (4-0), matches in which he imposed his game without much problems.
Krasnodar has played at home 4 of the last 5 matches and scored three victories: 1-0 with Tambov, 1-0 with Rennes and 5-0 with Rotor Volgograd. In the last duel of the championship, Krasnodar scored through Ari (’14, ’41) and Suleymanov (’43) in the first half, thus ensuring his victory in the championship.
Chelsea: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen, Emerson; Jorginho, Kovacic, Havertz; Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Pulisic
Coach: Frank Lampard
FK Krasnodar: Safonov; Smolnikov, Martynovich, Sorokin, Ramirez; Wanderson, Kambolov, Vilhena, Claesson; Berg, Ari
Coach: Murad Musayev
In 7 of Chelsea’s last 9 matches, at least three goals have been scored;
Chelsea have lost only one of their last 15 officials in regulation time;
Chelsea have won 8 of the last 9 games played in all competitions;
Krasnodar has 3 wins and 7 losses in the last 10 official matches;
In 4 of Krasnodar’s last 5 matches he has scored only one of the teams;
31 shots were sent to the goal in the tour (12 squares) and 10 corners were executed;
PREDICTION: Over 2,5 goals @ 1,55
