Predicted XI: Enzo Maresca faces big questions in one position for Atalanta game | OneFootball

Chelsea take on Atalanta tonight in the Champions League, and we’re really curious to see what team Enzo Maresca puts out.

As always, he’s got to balance the need to do well in the league with the need for an important win in the CL. Here’s the team we think he goes for tonight.

Maresca’s team hard to predict with so many competing factors

Enzo Maresca speaks in the press conference after a win.

Filip Jorgensen will want more games but Maresca simply can’t risk that right now, so Robert Sanchez will get the nod.

At the back, it should be a chance for Josh Acheampong to play at last, given Reece James and Malo Gusto will both be needed at the weekend.

Benoit Badiashile will likely feature with Trevoh Chalobah in the middle of the defence.

Jorrel Hato surely has to play at left back – Marc Cucurella can’t play twice a week all season.

In midfield, Moises Caicedo is not suspended in Europe so he can play, likely with Andrey Santos.

Ahead of them is the big question – Cole Palmer needs time to rest after his return at the weekend and Joao Pedro also needs a break – so we could see Facundo Buonanotte playing in the hole.

Out wide, expect Alejandro Garnacho on one side and Estevao Willian on the other, with Marc Guiu leading the line. All in all, that means a pretty rotated lineup – but Maresca just doesn’t have much choice as he needs to be full strength in the league this weekend.

In other Atalanta news…

Enzo Maresca spoke in his press conference about the threat that Atalanta have, but most of all his admiration for the project put together there. It is not common to hear him speak so emotively.

Winger Alejandro Garnacho stepped up to do the press conference alongside Maresca, and he discussed why tonight was such an important game for the Blues.