Maurizio Sarri never won a trophy at Napoli, but he still has a chance to earn one during his initial season at Chelsea. Tonight is the final home game of the season for the Blues, the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semifinal tie against Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Blues head into the match, quite possibly the last time the home fans see Eden Hazard in action for their side, knotted up at 1-1 on aggregate. This may be the last time Olivier Giroud and David Luiz don a blue shirt at home too, as their contracts are set to expire.
The Blues will be without three of their most talented players N’Golo Kante, Antonio Rudiger and Callum Hudson-Odoi, due to injury in this one.
In other words, it’s not going to be easy here, yes despite the manner in which the west London side has essentially cruised through most of this tournament.
Let’s take a look at who Maurizio Sarri might go with in his first team here, as he strives to get his side through to the UEL final.
The Bank Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction at Eintracht Frankfurt
Attack: Eden Hazard, Gonzalo Higuain, Pedro
Midfield: Ross Barkley, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic
Defense: Emerson Palmieri, David Luiz, Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta
Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga
Chelsea FC vs Eintracht Frankfurt (UEFA Europa League semifinal Leg 2/2) FYIs
Kickoff- Thursday May 2, Commerzbank Arena 8pm
Prediction- Chelsea 2, Eintracht Frankfurt 1
Arsenal UEL Injury Report and Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
With both English clubs now through to the semi-final round, it seems very likely that one of them will win it all. Maybe we could have a London derby final too!
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets:Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.