Chelsea vs Lille confirmed lineups as Lukaku dropped while Bamba starts for French champions
World champions Chelsea return to Champions League action this evening as French champions Lille come to Stamford Bridge.
On paper, a meeting with a side languishing in Ligue 1’s midtable would have been one of the most favourable Thomas Tuchel could have asked for, although Chelsea certainly aren’t without problems themselves.
While the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup have both been added to Tuchel’s list of honours since beating Manchester City in the final of this competition last season, the champions have laboured all too often and simply have not clicked into gear following the big money signing of Romelu Lukaku.
Lille, meanwhile, might not have matched their previous exploits either but do have players to hurt anyone, particularly in the shape of striker Jonathan David and enigmatic winger, Hatem Ben Arfa.
Chelsea XI: Edouard Mendy, César Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudider, Marcos Alonso, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz
Lille XI: Leonardo, Z. Celik, J. Fonte, S. Botman, T. Djalo, Xeka, A. Onana, B. Andre, R. Sanches, J. David, J. Bamba
