Chelsea travel to Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday night.
In the quarter-finals, Chelsea overcame Slavia Prague 5-3 on aggregate, while Frankfurt eliminated Portugese side Benfica on away goals in a stunning 4-4 tie.
Both Chelsea and Frankfurt sit fourth in their respective leagues, but neither team is in electrifying form – the London club have three victories in their last six matches, and the German side have won just two of their last six games.
The Europa League may therefore represent as good an opportunity for Champions League football next season as the clubs’ domestic ventures.
1/23 Player ratings: United vs Chelsea
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2/23 David de Gea – 4 out of 10
EPA
3/23 Ashley Young – 6
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4/23 Eric Bailly – 7
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5/23 Victor Lindelof – 6
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6/23 Luke Shaw – 7
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7/23 Ander Herrera – 6
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8/23 Nemanja Matic – 7
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9/23 Juan Mata – 7
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10/23 Paul Pogba – 6
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11/23 Romelu Lukaku – 6
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12/23 Marcus Rashford – 6
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13/23 Kepa – 7
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14/23 Cesar Azpilicueta – 6
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15/23 Antonio Rudiger – 6
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16/23 David Luiz – 6
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17/23 Marcos Alonso – 7
Man of the match.
EPA
18/23 N’Golo Kante – 6
EPA
19/23 Jorginho – 7
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20/23 Mateo Kovacic – 7
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21/23 Willian – 6
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22/23 Gonzalo Higuain – 6
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23/23 Eden Hazard – 7
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1/23 Player ratings: United vs Chelsea
Getty Images
2/23 David de Gea – 4 out of 10
EPA
3/23 Ashley Young – 6
REUTERS
4/23 Eric Bailly – 7
AFP/Getty Images
5/23 Victor Lindelof – 6
Getty Images
6/23 Luke Shaw – 7
Action Images via Reuters
7/23 Ander Herrera – 6
Action Images via Reuters
8/23 Nemanja Matic – 7
Getty Images
9/23 Juan Mata – 7
Getty Images
10/23 Paul Pogba – 6
REUTERS
11/23 Romelu Lukaku – 6
Action Images via Reuters
12/23 Marcus Rashford – 6
Man Utd via Getty Images
13/23 Kepa – 7
REUTERS
14/23 Cesar Azpilicueta – 6
REUTERS
15/23 Antonio Rudiger – 6
REUTERS
16/23 David Luiz – 6
REUTERS
17/23 Marcos Alonso – 7
Man of the match.
EPA
18/23 N’Golo Kante – 6
EPA
19/23 Jorginho – 7
AFP/Getty Images
20/23 Mateo Kovacic – 7
REUTERS
21/23 Willian – 6
Man Utd via Getty Images
22/23 Gonzalo Higuain – 6
Reuters
23/23 Eden Hazard – 7
REUTERS
What time does it start?
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Chelsea kicks off at 8pm (GMT).
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 3, with coverage beginning at 7:15pm.
Subscribers can also watch the game on BTSport.com and the broadcaster’s app.
Predicted line-ups
- Frankfurt: Trapp; Abraham, Hasebe, Hinteregger; Da Costa, Fernandes, Rode, Kostic, Gacinovic; Paciencia, Jovic
- Chelsea: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Christensen, Emerson; Jorginho, Kante, Barkley; Pedro, Giroud, Hazard
Head-to-head…
Thursday evening’s clash will mark the first time the two clubs have played each other in official competition.
Form guide…
- Frankfurt: WLLWDD
- Chelsea: WWLWDD
Odds…
- Frankfurt to win: 9/5
- Chelsea to win: 31/20
- Draw: 12/5
- (Odds by Betfair)
Prediction… Frankfurt 1-2 Chelsea
Frankfurt showed a lot of heart and determination in the quarter-finals, progressing on away goals after overturning a 4-2 first leg defeat, which included a sending off for the German side.
The team’s celebration at full-time in the second leg showed what the Europa League means to them, so expect Frankfurt to be fired up for Thursday’s fixture.
Adi Hutter’s side will be without Ante Rebic in their front line, however, as the Croatian sees out the final days of a suspension, while Chelsea have their own absentees in Callum Hudson-Odoi – whose Achilles injury has ruled him out for the rest of the season – and Willian.
With Gonzalo Higuain failing to impress at the weekend, Olivier Giroud is likely to start as striker for the Blues, and the tournament’s top scorer will be eager to add to his tally of 10 goals in the Europa League this season.
Chelsea must also beware Frankfurt striker Luka Jovic, though, who has eight goals in the competition this term – the second highest return after Giroud.
