Facundo Buonanotte Drafted into Chelsea’s Champions League Squad as Estevão Returns to Training | OneFootball

Sky Sports have confirmed that Chelsea have added Facundo Buonanotte (20) to their Champions League squad ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Bayern Munich, with the Argentine playmaker replacing the injured Dário Essugo.

Buonanotte joined the Blues on loan from Brighton on Deadline Day and was handed a full debut against Brentford at the weekend. Initially omitted from Chelsea’s 25-man European squad, he has now been registered under UEFA’s revised injury provision, which permits clubs to make changes in the event of long-term absences.

Essugo, the highly rated 20-year-old midfielder, has undergone surgery on a thigh injury sustained while on duty with Portugal’s Under-21s during the international break. His absence is another blow to Enzo Maresca’s midfield options, though Buonanotte’s versatility offers a timely reinforcement.

Chelsea were handed further encouragement on Tuesday as Benoît Badiashile and Roméo Lavia both returned to full training after missing the start of the season. Brazilian teenager Estevão, who sat out the Brentford fixture, was also back with the squad at Cobham and is expected to be in contention against Bayern.

GFN | Finn Entwistle