12 Jun 2019
Chelsea are still fighting on two fronts, despite their League Cup final defeat to Manchester City and their FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United.
They sit two points and two places behind fourth-placed United with a game in hand and are odds-on at 4/5 to finish in the top four and secure Champions League football next season.
However, winning the Europa League may be the best chance the Blues have of getting into Europe’s premier club competition next season, as they have some tough Premier League games to come, including a London derby with West Ham, and trips to Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Before that, they face Dynamo Kiev in the last 16 of the Europa League, hoping to continue their upturn in form.
Under-fire Maurizio Sarri looked to be on the brink of being dispensed with after a humiliating 6-0 defeat by Manchester City followed by an FA Cup exit at home to United.
However Sarri’s players showed they are still playing for the Italian following a 3-0 win over Malmo (albeit an unconvincing one) to reach the last 16 of the Europa League, a draw with City in the League Cup final at Wembley (which they ultimately lost on penalties) and London derby wins over Tottenham and Fulham.
Having already topped Group L and beaten Swedish side Malmo 5-1 on aggregate, the Blues will fancy their chances against Dynamo, who finished ahead of Arsenal’s next opponents, Rennes, in Group K before knocking out Olympiacos in the Round of 32.
The visitors, who are coached by Alyasandr Khatskevich, are currently second in the Ukrainian Premier League after 20 games, seven points adrift of old rivals Shakhtar Donetsk.
Chelsea have treated this competition seriously and have won all four of their matches at Stamford Bridge, conceding just one goal in the process, and the Genting Casino Europa League football odds have the Blues at 3/10 to win the first leg.
That may seem a little short to some when you consider the visitor’s record on the road in this competition. For Dynamo won at Rennes and Astana in the group stage and twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Olympiacos. Indeed, they have only lost one of their last 10 UEL away games, dating back to August 2017.
Furthermore, they have won their last four league games and are priced at 9/1 to win the first leg. The draw is available at 17/4.
TEAM NEWS
Amid a congested fixture list, Sarri could make a few changes and the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Olivier Giroud both started – and scored – in the second leg against Malmo, and will be hoping to play a prominent role again.
Giroud has scored six UEL goals this season and is currently available at 23/20 to score at any time and 7/2 to score the first goal. Hudson-Odoi is 9/5 to net at any time.
Kepa’s show of petulance at Wembley, refusing to be substituted for the penalty shoot-out with City, saw him dropped by Sarri. He was restored to the line-up against Fulham, but is likely to stand down on Thursday evening, with Willy Caballero taking his place in goal. The Blues, who have looked very solid defensively since that drubbing at the Etihad, are 7/10 to keep a clean sheet.
Chelsea will be without midfielders Danny Drinkwater (tendon) and Marco van Ginkel (knee), however.
Dynamo Kiev have a few players missing, notably Spanish striker Fran Sol, who is to undergo shoulder surgery after being injured against FC Desna on Saturday. He is also likely to miss the second leg and could be out for up to two months.
With top scorer Benjamin Verbic suspended, Heorhiy Tsitaihvili or Sidcley will play on the left side of the attack. Dynamo will need to rely on 21-year-old playmaker Viktor Tsygankov, who has attracted some admiring glances from top European clubs. He has two goals and four assists, and is 6/1 to score at any time.
BLUES TO CRUISE?
Chelsea have proven themselves in big games in recent weeks, and a similar showing to the one that saw them beat Tottenham 2-0 to effectively end their title chances, would probably be good enough to take a healthy first-leg lead to Kiev.
Dynamo have scored in their last nine away games in Europe, so despite Chelsea’s great defensive record, the odds of 5/4 for both sides to score might appear quite generous to some. The injuries to Verbic and Sol means the visitors may be less potent in attack, but they are a talented side who have the ability to score from set-pieces.
They are not reliant on one player to get goals, either, and have scored at least twice in four of their last five away games in this competition.
Sarri must be happy with the draw – the Blues could have faced the likes of Arsenal, Napoli, Sevilla, Inter Milan or Valencia in the last 16 – and the Genting Casino Europa League soccer odds are 4/1 for Chelsea to lift the trophy. They are currently second favourites to Napoli at 7/2.
This may not be a particularly memorable game and it could be a tight affair. Chelsea are 9/2 to win 2-0 on the Correct Score market, while it is 14/5 that they draw the first half but go on to win.
One thing is certain, Sarri will demand a third successive win before the long trip to the Ukraine for the second leg next Thursday.
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