Predicted XI: Enzo Maresca goes full strength with one exception in team to face Bayern | OneFootball

Tonight is the night. Chelsea play Bayern Munich in their glorious and long awaited return to the Champions League.

Blues prepare for career highlights

Chelsea celebrates Club World Cup as a group. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

For Enzo Maresca and many of the players this is a first, and a moment they’ve been building up to through their whole career, since childhood.

So what team will we see lining up in Blue tonight? If there was ever a moment to bring out the big guns, this is it. But there are a lot of things to think about – the players already in the red zone in terms of minutes, the players missing through injury or managing minor issues, plus the game against Manchester United to come on Saturday.

Chelsea’s likely team to take on Bayern

In goal, we already know that Robert Sanchez is going to start.

At right back, Malo Gusto probably gets the nod. Reece James hasn’t started a Chelsea game since the opening day, but his two starts for England and 45 minutes for the Blues on Saturday might mean he’s not risked tonight.

In the middle, it will be Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah. We saw Wesley Fofana on Saturday for the first time in months, but it’s too much to ask to throw him in tonight.

At left back, Marc Cucurella at least got 45 minutes off at the weekend.

The midfield picks itself – you just can’t leave out Moises Caicedo despite how much he’s played, and Enzo Fernandez is his usual partner. Cole Palmer is clearly managing an injury, but will be risked in such a huge game.

Estevao Willian missed out on Saturday, but that should mean he’s fresh enough for tonight – what a moment for the teenager. Pedro Neto remains first choice on the other flank.

Up front, Joao Pedro will hope for some joy running in behind against an aggressive Bayern team.