'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chelsea are set to face Zenit St Petersburg in a crunch UEFA Champions League clash on Tuesday with top spot in Group H at stake. Chelsea have had a relatively smooth campaign in the Champions League so far and are already through to the last 16.
Chelsea narrowly defeated Zenit St Petersburg 1-0 in the reverse fixture thanks to a second-half Romelu Lukaku header. The Blues are level on points with Juventus going into the last round of matches in the Champions League group stage.
Chelsea must win to secure top spot in their Champions League group
Chelsea have struggled in recent weeks since that famous 4-0 win over Juventus. The Blues drew at home to Manchester United and managed a narrow 2-1 win over Watford before suffering a shock 3-2 defeat to West Ham United at the weekend.
Chelsea have been boosted by the return to fitness of stars Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic. They have no new injury concerns ahead of their Champions League match.
Taking the players available into consideration, here is how Chelsea could line-up against Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League Group H decider.
Goalkeeper - Edouard Mendy
Edouard Mendy is expected to continue in goal for Chelsea despite his uninspiring performance against West Ham United at the weekend. The 29-year-old goalkeeper received strong backing from his manager Thomas Tuchel on the back of the performance, where he was arguably at fault for two goals.
Europe's best goalkeeper this year, Mendy has kept four clean sheets in five matches in the Champions League this season, conceding only once.
Right Center-Back: Cesar Azpilicueta
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta is expected to return for the Champions League clash against Zenit. The Spanish defender started the 2-1 win against Watford in midweek, but played no part at the weekend.
With the injury to Trevoh Chalobah, Azpilicueta may start in his favored RCB position in Russia on Wednesday. 31-year-old Azpilicueta has fallen below Chalobah and Andreas Christensen in the pecking order and has found minutes hard to come by this season.
Centre-Back: Andreas Christensen
25-year-old Danish central defender Andreas Christensen has delivered sterling performances for Chelsea in the Champions League this season. The defender is expected to start in the middle of the back three as Thiago Silva gets a deserved rest.
The 37-year-old Brazil international has played 90 minutes in five consecutive matches after the last international break.
Thomas Tuchel will surely think this is a good time to give him a deserved rest, allowing Christensen to start in his place. Christensen is involved in a contract saga with the club after his reluctance to agree a new deal angered Tuchel.
The manager left him on the bench for a number of matches before the injury to Chalobah saw him return to the side.
Left Centre-Back: Antonio Rudiger
German defender Antonio Rudiger is expected to maintain his place on the left of the back three for Chelsea. The experienced defender is another player embroiled in a contract stand-off with the club.
The defender has been one of the mainstays at Chelsea since the appointment of Thomas Tuchel, and will surely continue in his position. His marauding runs from deep have proven very useful in breaking opposition lines and creating opportunities for his side.
Right-wing back: Reece James
Chelsea are expected to continue with Reece James in their Champions League match against Zenit St Petersburg. James has been one of the club's best performers this season.
The Englishman has completely dispelled any doubts surrounding his abilities and has made the right-wing back's position his own at Chelsea.
James delivered a complete performance for Chelsea in their last Champions League match, a 4-0 mauling of Juventus. The 21-year-old attack-minded defender has contributed to ten goals in all competitions for Chelsea this season and is certain to start against Zenit St Petersburg.
His ability from out wide is sure to give the Russian side problems in the game.
Central Midfield: Saul Niguez
With UEFA Player of the Year Jorginho set to miss out with a hip injury, Chelsea will have to turn to Spanish midfielder Saul Niguez in their Champions League match against Zenit.
The on-loan Atletico Madrid man has endured a rather disappointing start to his loan spell at Chelsea after a series of poor performances. His latest appearance for the club ended with a half-time withdrawal following an early yellow card against Watford in an eventual 2-1 win for Chelsea.
Jorginho has consistently been impressive for the club, helping them dictate play and control possession from deep. Saul has huge shoes to fill, but the Spaniard can show his quality against less intense opponents in the Champions League.
Central Midfield: Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is expected to continue in midfield in the continued absence of first-choice midfielders at Chelsea. The Englishman has hardly impressed in the extended absence of N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic, but the added injury to Jorginho means he will continue to start.
The 25-year-old has started each of Chelsea's last three games and is expected to continue. With Jorginho out injured, Loftus-Cheek will be key to ball progression for Chelsea in the match. His physique and ability make him the prime candidate to push the team up the pitch when the need arises.
Left-wing back: Marcos Alonso
Spanish defender Marcos Alonso is expected to continue at left-wing back for Chelsea against Zenit St Petersburg. The 31-year-old is the only natural option available at Tuchel's disposal following the knee injury sustained by Ben Chilwell against Juventus.
Alonso will look to play high up the pitch and join in the attack just as Tuchel wants his wide defenders to. A quite accomplished goalscorer, too, Alonso will provide a good deal of goal threat from set pieces and his movement towards the opposition area.
Right-wing Forward: Hakim Ziyech
Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech looks to have hit form for Chelsea with Champions League football around the corner. The left-footed winger seems to be hitting a rich vein of form with two goals and four assists in his last six starts for the side.
The talented winger has struggled for form and fitness since moving to London from Ajax, but now seems to be in a good place.
Ziyech's ability to find a man with his brilliant passing will cause problems for Zenit in their Champions League match. His recent form has also restored a measure of confidence in his game and has seen him attempt some audacious shots and passes.
Ziyech has developed a knack for scoring in important matches in the Champions League for Chelsea.
One of the earliest noticeable features of Ziyech's game at Chelsea was his ability to combine to devastating effect with Reece James. If both men can utilize this connection, Zenit will find it difficult to cope with them on the right flank.
Centre Forward: Kai Havertz
Chelsea have confirmed that Kai Havertz has recovered from a knock suffered in their 3-2 defeat to West Ham United at the weekend. The German was helped off the pitch after a collision with Kurt Zouma in the first half, and failed to emerge for the second half.
He is expected to lead the line with Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner still not back to full fitness.
Havertz is a willing runner and his ability to run the channels will help Chelsea stretch the Zenit St Petersburg defence if they look to sit deep. Havertz was the hero of the last Champions League final for Chelsea. They will be looking to him for some much-needed inspiration in their final group match.
Tuchel has the option of calling on Lukaku or Werner from the bench, depending on what he wants from them and how the game progresses. With top spot in their Champions League group at stake, Havertz is the best man to lead the line from the start.
Left-wing Forward: Mason Mount
Mason Mount looks to be back to full fitness after suffering from the effects of a wisdom tooth infection over the past couple of months. The 22-year-old Englishman has been undoubtedly Chelsea's best player in the matches he has played since his recovery, with two goals and two assists in two games.
Mount is a clear creative hub for the team and doubles as a goalscoring threat as well as a tenacious runner. The midfielder is known for his ability to press high without showing signs of fatigue. When fit, he is a sure starter for Tuchel's side in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
After missing a huge chunk of the 4-0 hammering of Juventus last time around in the Champions League, Mount will be eager to make up for lost time against Zenit St Petersburg.
