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Maurizio Sarri's team in Chelsea need a resounding response on the first day of the 32nd match day against Malmo at Swedbank Stadion.
Although Chelsea boss is under pressure from all sides, including rumors that Zinedine Zidane could already be replaced, a weakened team can be expected in the first of four consecutive 10-day cup matches.
Sarri will choose to reserve his main firepower for two matches that could further influence the decision on his tenure. Manchester United in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Monday night and the final of the Carabao Cup against Man City the following Sunday.
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Unbeaten in the Europa League this season, Chelsea has been strong and hopes to get back on track. Only once before, Chelsea reached this round of the Europa League. They won the contest on this occasion and will be encouraged by this statistic.
The withdrawal from the Europa League could stand in the way of Chelsea's only chance to secure Champions League football next season if Sarri's team missed fourth place.
1/22 Ederson – 7 out of 10
Forced into a fine except by the volley in the first half of Higuain, but otherwise rarely called for action.
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2/22 Kyle Walker – 7
Another improved display. In concert with Stones, Hazard kept control on Chelsea's left.
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3/22 John Stones – 7
An badured performance, which we expected from a player who rarely has a day off.
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4/22 Aymeric Laporte – 7
Higuain offered little leeway. Behind Virgil van Dijk, perhaps the best center-half in the high flight.
Getty
5/22 Oleksandr Zinchenko – 7
A surprise selection at the back left, with Laporte moved to center, but continues to repay Guardiola's faith with consistent performances.
Getty
6/22 Fernandinho – 8
Won the battle for control in the middle of the park against Jorginho. Continue to challenge his age with energetic performances.
Getty
7/22 Ilkay Gundogan – 8
In excellent nick. Followed Etihad's last week against Arsenal with a close-range goal.
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8/22 Kevin De Bruyne – 7
A clever kick triggered Bernardo and led to the opening of the City score.
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9/22 Bernardo Silva – 9
Another player in excellent shape. Impressive on the right flank, despite playing center for a good part of the season.
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10/22 Raheem Sterling – 8
Well positioned to wear a splint. It can be argued that the threat from the left flank was even more threatening than it was playing far right.
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11/22 Sergio Aguero – 9
Consecutive hat trick at home. He is now the league's top scorer in the City. Loses only one point for his horrible miss in the first period.
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12/22 Kepa Arrizabalaga – 5
Far from the worst offenders in Chelsea, but difficult to give him credit when he conceded six. Gundogan, in particular, was preventable.
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13/22 Cesar Azpilicueta – 5
Abandon the penalty for Aguero third and too often beaten by Sterling.
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14/22 Antonio Rudiger – 6
Again, this is not the main culprit for Chelsea's defensive failures, although it may help strengthen Sarri's porous defense.
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15/22 David Luiz – 4
Imperious in the opposite match at Stamford Bridge, less in this return. He did not help Barkley with tame control before City's third match.
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16/22 Marcos Alonso – 3
Offbeat and no match for Bernardo. Offers little when it is impossible to jump forward from the left rear.
Getty
17/22 Ross Barkley – 4
The heading back to his own goal, City's third place, was yet another example of poor decision-making.
Getty
18/22 Jorginho – 4
Another game that has pbaded the summer signing by entirely. Even if he played under Guardiola, it's difficult to imagine him exerting the same influence as Fernandinho.
Getty
19/22 N & # 39; Golo Kante – 5
Still to convince in the new role despite six months of practice. Does his best to stem the tide of the city, but offers almost nothing.
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20/22 Pedro – 5
An intriguing selection about Willian but that did not pay off.
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21/22 Gonzalo Higuain – 6
A scathing volley threatened Ederson but, like Hazard, he was otherwise kept silent.
Getty
22/22 Eden Hazard – 6
He looked very bright with the ball at his feet, but he was often squeezed out by a solid bottom line of the city.
Getty
1/22 Ederson – 7 out of 10
Forced into a fine except by the volley in the first half of Higuain, but otherwise rarely called for action.
Getty
2/22 Kyle Walker – 7
Another improved display. In concert with Stones, Hazard kept control on Chelsea's left.
Getty
3/22 John Stones – 7
An badured performance, which we expected from a player who rarely has a day off.
Getty
4/22 Aymeric Laporte – 7
Higuain offered little leeway. Behind Virgil van Dijk, perhaps the best center-half in the high flight.
Getty
5/22 Oleksandr Zinchenko – 7
A surprise selection at the back left, with Laporte moved to center, but continues to repay Guardiola's faith with consistent performances.
Getty
6/22 Fernandinho – 8
Won the battle for control in the middle of the park against Jorginho. Continue to challenge his age with energetic performances.
Getty
7/22 Ilkay Gundogan – 8
In excellent nick. Followed Etihad's last week against Arsenal with a close-range goal.
Getty
8/22 Kevin De Bruyne – 7
A clever kick triggered Bernardo and led to the opening of the City score.
Getty
9/22 Bernardo Silva – 9
Another player in excellent shape. Impressive on the right flank, despite playing center for a good part of the season.
Getty
10/22 Raheem Sterling – 8
Well positioned to wear a splint. It can be argued that the threat from the left flank was even more threatening than it was playing far right.
Getty
11/22 Sergio Aguero – 9
Consecutive hat trick at home. He is now the league's top scorer in the City. Loses only one point for his horrible miss in the first period.
Getty
12/22 Kepa Arrizabalaga – 5
Far from the worst offenders in Chelsea, but difficult to give him credit when he conceded six. Gundogan, in particular, was preventable.
Getty
13/22 Cesar Azpilicueta – 5
Abandon the penalty for Aguero third and too often beaten by Sterling.
Getty
14/22 Antonio Rudiger – 6
Again, this is not the main culprit for Chelsea's defensive failures, although it may help strengthen Sarri's porous defense.
Getty
15/22 David Luiz – 4
Imperious in the opposite match at Stamford Bridge, less in this return. He did not help Barkley with tame control before City's third match.
Getty
16/22 Marcos Alonso – 3
Offbeat and no match for Bernardo. Offers little when it is impossible to jump forward from the left rear.
Getty
17/22 Ross Barkley – 4
The heading back to his own goal, City's third place, was yet another example of poor decision-making.
Getty
18/22 Jorginho – 4
Another game that has pbaded the summer signing by entirely. Even if he played under Guardiola, it's difficult to imagine him exerting the same influence as Fernandinho.
Getty
19/22 N & # 39; Golo Kante – 5
Still to convince in the new role despite six months of practice. Does his best to stem the tide of the city, but offers almost nothing.
Getty
20/22 Pedro – 5
An intriguing selection about Willian but that did not pay off.
Getty
21/22 Gonzalo Higuain – 6
A scathing volley threatened Ederson but, like Hazard, he was otherwise kept silent.
Getty
22/22 Eden Hazard – 6
He looked very bright with the ball at his feet, but he was often squeezed out by a solid bottom line of the city.
Getty
What time does it start?
Malmo vs. Chelsea will start on Thursday, February 14 at 8 pm
Where can I watch it?
The match will be broadcast live on BT Sport 2 from 20h. BT Sport subscribers can also view via the website or application.
Chelsea won five wins and a draw in group stage (Getty)
Scheduled line-ups
Malmo: Dahlin; Nielsen, Bengtsson, Safari, Vindheim, Christiansen, Bashirou, Lewicki, Rieks, Rosenbourg, Antonsson
Chelsea: Caballero; Zappacosta, Cahill, Christensen, Emerson, Kovacic, Kante, Loftus Cheek, Hudson-Odoi, Willian, Giroud
Form Guide
Malmo: DLWDWD
Chelsea: LWLWW * L
* After extension
Head-to-head
This match will be the first meeting between the clubs.
odds
Malmo to win: 9/1
Chelsea to win: 2/5
Draw: 4/1
(Odds provided by Betfair)
Prediction
1-3
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