The wait is over and the glorious European nights are finally back! Sort of. Despite it being “only” the Europa League, I’m actually glad that it’s getting under way as it’ll hopefully give opportunities to some of the promising youngsters who impressed during preseason. Plus, since we’re “stuck” with this competition for this season, we might as well give it our best shot and maybe even win it, like in 2013. On paper and given the team’s depth, the group stage should be a piece of cake. Today’s match will likely be the hardest of the six games, and that opinion is shared by the manager as well. Maurizio Sarri expected to rotate about 4-5 players, so for the first time all season, there’s a fair bit of guesswork in involved in the predictions. PREDICTED LINE-UP It’s unclear if he’s counted as one of the lineup changes, but Willy Caballero will surely start his first match of the season, with Arrizabalaga taking over in the knockout rounds. Regarding the back four, I’d expect Sarri to go with Alonso, Cahill, Christensen and Zappacosta, with the two more senior centre backs likely to start ahead of Ampadu. Zappacosta actually played decently well during preseason and showed off some of his crossing that he was supposed to bring to the table last season. Zappacosta could also play on the left, with usual right back (Captain?) Azpilicueta keeping his spot to spell Alonso for a minute. The midfield could be an area which may see fewer changes than initially expected, with Sarri casting a bit of doubt over Loftus-Cheek’s readiness and Fàbregas’ match fitness still in doubt at this point. We know that Kanté is indefatigable and Jorginho is needed to make the system truly tick, so Barkley might be the only change in restoring the preferred early season trio. In attack, most are desperate to see Callum Hudson-Odoi be given his European debut, but Sarri cast an even bigger doubt over him than Loftus-Cheek. With Morata already confirmed to start and Pedro traveling and Hazard not (Sarri planned to rest one of those two), the only other opening in the front line should go to Willian. That’s a total of six changes, seven if we count the goalkeeper, so even this may be a bit too ambitious. Don’t be surprised to see Azpilicueta and/or Rüdiger getting starts, too. 4-3-3 Caballero | Alonso, Cahill, Christensen, Zappacosta | Barkley, Jorginho, Kanté | Willian, Morata, Pedro THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE The WAGNH community’s preferred line-up is a mixed bag across the board, with plenty of uncertainty at almost every position, plus one impossibility due to late team news: Emerson handily won the left back spot, but he turns out to have not traveled due to illness. The votes were most split in midfield, where no one other than Barkley got over 60% and Kanté (45%), Jorginho (37%), and Fàbregas (32%) all got under 50%. 4-3-3 Caballero (43%) | Emerson (80%), Cahill (60%), Christensen (94%), Zappacosta (77%) | Barkley (90%), Ampadu (60%), Loftus-Cheek (60%) | Hudson-Odoi (77%), Morata (90%), Willian (60%) PREFERRED LINEUP It’s pretty simple: I want to see Ampadu and Hudson-Odoi given the chance to prove themselves. This is going to be a very long season and the earlier the two can do that (outside of preseason), the better. I also believe Fabregas is a necessity as he’s the only one in the team able to play the ‘regista’ role that Jorginho normally takes up. 4-3-3 Caballero | Alonso, Ampadu, Christensen, Zappacosta | Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas, Barkley | Hudson-Odoi, Morata, Willian COME ON, YOU BLUES!<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Maurizio Sarri will rotate the majority of his Chelsea starting XI to kick off the 2018/19 Europa League campaign against PAOK on Thursday night. The Italian boss is set to make a string of changes to keep his squad fresh and content, with plenty of competition for places. Sarri has confirmed one starter already with Alvaro Morata set to lead the line for Chelsea despite being dropped against Cardiff at the weekend. Morata has struggled for form so far in 2018/19, with Olivier Giroud coming into the line-up at the weekend, but Sarri insists the battle isn't over.<doc-sep>Ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash between PAOK and Chelsea, Sports Mole looks at how the home side could line up. PAOK will face Chelsea for the first time in European competition on Thursday night when the Greek giants welcome Maurizio Sarri's side to to the Toumba Stadium. PAOK, who finished second in the Greek top flight last season, last faced English opposition during the 2011-12 Europa League, and actually beat Tottenham Hotspur in London during that particular campaign. The team also held Spurs to a goalless draw in the home match and have previously beaten Premier League opposition in the shape of Arsenal during the 1997-98 UEFA Cup. Razvan Lucescu's side will enter the match having won three of their last four matches in all competitions, but the defeat during that run - at home to Benfica - saw them fail to make the group stage of the Champions League. PAOK will now be firmly focused on making an impression in the Europa League, however, as they prepare to welcome Chelsea on Thursday night. Here, Sports Mole looks at how the home side could line up in front of their own fans. None Aleksandar Prijovic (hamstring) PAOK's main selection dilemma entering the clash with Chelsea comes in the final third, with head coach Lucescu debating whether to select Aleksandar Prijovic. The Serbian, who has five goals in eight matches this season, picked up a hamstring problem during a training session last week, and missed his team's 3-1 win over OFI Crete in the Greek Super League on Saturday. The 28-year-old was expected to miss the clash with the Blues but took part in a training session on Monday, and he could now be handed a spot in the final third of the field. PAOK also have former Arsenal forward Chuba Akpom as an option in the final third, but the Englishman is unlikely to start as Omar El Kaddouri, Leo Jaba and Diego Biseswar prepare to feature. Jose Crespo, Fernando Varela and Vierinha, meanwhile, are all expected to start in defence. > Click here to see how Chelsea could line up for this fixture<doc-sep>
Chelsea get their Europa League campaign under way tonight in Thessaloniki as they take on PAOK in Greece, but Maurizio Sarri could be set to spring a surprise by playing a stronger side than first thought. With two home games in the competition following this one, a victory in the Toumba Stadium would set the Blues up perfectly for qualification and Sarri confirmed yesterday that he could make only four or five changes. We already know three of them, with Eden Hazard and David Luiz staying in England to rest, while Mateo Kovacic is also recovering from the injury he picked up against Cardiff on Saturday. That will no doubt give a chance to Ross Barkley and Andreas Christensen to start, however Callum Hudson-Odoi might well begin on the bench with Sarri to go for experience to get the win. One player who could miss out on a start is Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with Sarri hinting yesterday that the England international may struggle to get in for tonight's game. "Loftus-Cheek for me is a very good player but I don't know if there is a spot for him. Of course there will be a spot for him in the future," Sarri said. "Now it is very difficult because in the first part of the season it is very important to play with possibly the same players just to have a very solid team but I have to change four or five players but it is impossible to change in this moment of the season to change 11 players in the match." Meanwhile, Emerson has also not travelled with the squad and that could mean another game for Marcos Alonso on the left as he looks to continue his excellent form so far. Alvaro Morata is set to start up front, with Willian playing on one side and it could be either Pedro, Moses or Hudson-Odoi on the other side, with Sarri having a decent choice. Predicted Chelsea team: Caballero, Zappacosta, Rudiger, Christensen, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Barkley, Willian, Pedro, Morata. Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android. Available to download from the App Store and Google Play.