Eintracht Frankfurt welcome Chelsea to the Commerzbank-Arena for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Team news
Schalke could be without striker, Sebastien Haller who is struggling with an abdominal issue.
Ante Rebic is banned but Evan Ndicka is available after serving his own ban last time out against Benfica.
Chelsea will be without Antonio Rudiger after the defender needed knee surgery this week.
Gary Cahill (Achilles) is sidelined but could return for the second leg next Thursday, whilst Willian is available after overcoming a knock picked up against Manchester United.
Ethan Ampadu (back), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Achilles) and Marco van Ginkel (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) are both long-term absentees.
Stat Attack
- This is the very first meeting between these teams in any competition.
- Chelsea have progressed from two of their last three semi-finals in UEFA competitions, going on to lift the trophy on both occasions.
- Eintracht Frankfurt are unbeaten in their last two home ties against English opposition (W1, D1).
- Oliver Giroud has scored 10 goals from 11 Europa League starts this season for Chelsea.
- Chelsea have won each of their last three European trips to Germany, beating Schalke in 2013-14 and 2014-15 Champions League seasons and Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League Final.
Prediction
Eintracht Frankfurt have done well to get past three top teams to reach this stage so Chelsea will need to be on their guard here.
My biggest concern for the Blues though is the fact that they have produced only one quality away win in Europe this season, meaning that a convincing performance is needed here if they aren’t to face a nervy home leg next week.
I am therefore going for a draw here because I can see Chelsea’s away form catching up with them here.
Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Chelsea
Result: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Chelsea