Time : 9:00pm
Stadium : Swedbank Stadion
Team News & Tactics :
Malmo FF
Lasse Nielsen and Rasmus Bengtsson were the best performers for Malmo over the Group Stage of the UEFA Europa League and the duo should be an automatic choice in the back three, with Behrang Safari likely to complete the backline. Johan Dahlin is the first-choice goalkeeper and should start on Thursday.
Malmo feel comfortable in a 3-5-2 setup, which should be how they line up against Chelsea. The defensive midfield pairing of Oscar Lewicki and Fouad Bachirou will be key to keeping Chelsea quiet. Anders Christiansen should be the other central midfielder, with Andreas Vindheim and Soren Rieks the likely wing-backs.
Marcus Antonsson is Malmo’s leading goalscorer, with 3 strikes in the group stage and should start upfront alongside the veteran Markus Rosenberg.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Dahlin; Nielsen, Bengtsson, Safari; Vindheim, Lewicki, Christiansen, Bachirou, Rieks; Rosenberg, Antonsson
Chelsea
While there will be changes expected for the Europa League fixture, Maurizio Sarri will be wary of making too many, especially with a result on Thursday necessary to gather momentum and bounce back from the Manchester City mauling. Still, the back four should see a major makeover, with Andreas Christensen and Gary Cahill coming in at centre-back.
Emerson Palmieri has somewhat impressed and could lay claim for a start against Manchester United on Monday night, with a good performance against Malmo. There has been rumours of a rift between the manager and certain key players. But, Cesar Azpilicueta should start on Thursday regardless.
Ethan Ampadu and Mateo Kovacic should come into the midfield, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek likely to complete the trident. Gonzalo Higuain could be handed his first Europa League start as a Chelsea player, with Willian likely on one of the wings and Callum Hudson-Odoi on the other.
The youngster has been ignored in recent matches but should be in the starting eleven on Thursday.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Emerson; Loftus-Cheek, Ampadu, Kovacic; Willian, Higuain, Hudson-Odoi
Key Stats
1. All of Malmo’s goals so far in the Europa League this season (7) have come in the second half.
2. The two teams have never met each other before in a competitive match.
3. Chelsea are unbeaten against Swedish opposition in four games and come into the knockout phase after an unbeaten Group Stage campaign.
4. Chelsea have conceded a total of 12 goals in their last 3 away games in all competitions, with nothing in response.
5. Olivier Giroud has four goals in his last three Europa League appearances.
Player to Watch
Andreas Christensen
Prediction
Malmo FF 1-2 Chelsea
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