Chelsea vs Valencia lineups: Confirmed team news and starting XIs for Champions League opener

James Olley17 September 2019

Frank Lampard sprang a surprise at Wolves last weekend when switching to a three-man defence for the first time as Chelsea head coach.

Despite Antonio Rudiger’s absence against Valencia with a groin problem, he persists with that shape for his Champions League managerial debut with Kurt Zouma coming in.

Marcus Alonso continues on the left with Emerson unavailable while the match also comes too soon for N’Golo Kante and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Willian made his first start of the campaign at Molineux and continues in attack, with Tammy Abraham also retaining his place following the first hat-trick of his Chelsea career.

Fresh from making his England debut during the recent international break, Mason Mount also starts in a more advanced wide left position he has occupied in recent games.

Team news and lineups

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Zouma, Christensen, Tomori, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Willian, Mount, Abraham

Subs: Barkley, Pedro, Caballero, Giroud, Pulisic, Batshuayi, Guehi

Valencia: Cillessen, Wass, Garay, Gabriel, Gaya, Coquelin, Parejo, Kondogbia, Cheryshev, Rodrigo, Gameiro

Subs: Domenech Jaume, Costa Jaume, Goncalo Guedes, Diakhaby, Lee, Torres, Gomez

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

Chelsea squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers

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