[Teams] Malmo vs Chelsea: Confirmed Line-ups

Chelsea will look to bring home a positive result from the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie with Malmo this evening. 

Maurizio Sarri has named a strong side as Kepa keeps his place in goal with Willy Caballero once again on the bench while Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz line-up in defence. Antonio Rudiger makes way for Andreas Christensen while Emerson Palmeiri replaces Marcos Alonso at left-back.

Jorginho keeps his place in the deep-lying playmaker role and the Italian international is joined by Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic in the middle of the park with N’Golo Kante making way.

Gonzalo Higuain and Eden Hazard drop to the bench as they’re rested ahead of the FA Cup clash with Manchester United on Monday night so Olivier Giroud leads the line up front. Pedro starts while Willian gets a recall meaning youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi must make do with a place on the bench.

Here are the confirmed line-ups:

Malmo

Dahlin; Vindheim, Nielsen, Bengtsson, Safari; Traustason, Christiansen, Bachirou, Rieks; Rosenberg, Antonsson.

Subs: Melichárek, Larsson, Binaku, Lewicki, Strandberg, Ahmedhodzic, Gall.

Chelsea

Kepa, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Christensen, Emerson, Barkley, Jorginho, Kovacic, Willian, Giroud, Pedro.

Subs: Caballero, Rüdiger, Zappacosta, Kanté, Hudson-Odoi, Hazard, Higuain