Thomas Tuchel makes five changes in the Chelsea eleven that would take the pitch at Stamford Bridge shortly to face off against Atletico Madrid as a spot in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League remains up for grabs.
The Blues were last involved in the goalless stalemate at Elland Road in top-flight action and on the back of that lacklustre showing on the road, Tuchel opts to bring in a number of his key first-team regulars, hoping to make the most of the first-leg win over the Atletico outfit.
Ben Chilwell is replaced by Marcos Alonso in the left wing-back spot and Andres Christensen has to make way for Kurt Zouma despite the Danish international being in terrific form of late.
With no striker being played by Tuchel in the weekend draw against Leeds United, the Chelsea boss issues a recall to the under-fire Timo Werner as the German forward gets the nod ahead of the veteran Frenchman Olivier Giroud.
Here is how both teams line up for today’s Champions League fixture:
Chelsea FC XI
How we line-up for #CHEATM 👇 Five changes from Leeds as we revert to a back three pic.twitter.com/B7S6oUBu3P
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 17, 2021
Atletico Madrid FC XI
👥 Here we go!
Your 𝘼𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙞 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙓𝙄 for tonight ✊
⚽ #ChelseaAtleti | ⭐ #UCL
🔴⚪ #AúpaAtleti pic.twitter.com/iRj4h1LOBK— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) March 17, 2021