Swedish Test for Sarri
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There are some big clubs in the Europa League this season, one of which is Chelsea and they travel to Sweden on Thursday night to play Malmo. The match will take place at the Swedbank Stadion and this is the first leg of the Round of 32 tie.
This represents the first time Malmo have progressed to the knockout stages of the current format of the Europa League having failed to so in their previous two attempts. Chelsea on the other hand have lifted this trophy as recently as 2012/13 and are one of the favourites do so again this season.
It has been a quiet time for Malmo in terms of competitive action over the winter. The new Swedish season is set to begin on the weekend and they have not played a competitive game since the end of the Europa League group stages in December.
That is less than ideal preparation but they should be fit and raring to go ahead of the new domestic campaign.
Trends show Malmö FF are undefeated in seven of their last eight Europa League games. They lost just one of their six group games this season but managed only two wins, both of which came against Besiktas.
Home form shows Malmo are undefeated in their last eight home Europa League matches and have scored 2 or more goals in three of their last four.
Chelsea make the trip to Sweden on the back of an embarrassing 6-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City on Sunday in the Premier League. They were 4-0 down inside 25 minutes and could easily have gone on to lose by more.
Maurizio Sarri is coming under pressure and needs to win this game to keep the press off his back. The 6-0 loss at Chelsea follows the heavy 4-0 loss at Bournemouth and the Blues cannot afford another big away defeat.
From in the Europa League shows Chelsea are unbeaten in their last nine games, winning eight and drawing one. Away results show four wins and a draw in their last five, with the draw coming in their most recent game at Vidi having already qualified for the knockout stages.
Chelsea have scored in each of their last six away matches in the Europa League and will be hoping to extend that run.
Team news and Malmo have no injury concerns ahead of what is essentially the start of the new season for them. January signings Adi Nalic, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Dusan Melicharek could all play some part in the match.
Chelsea have doubts over Gary Cahill but if fit the England defender could join Callum Hudson-Odoi,
Andreas Christensen, Gary Cahill, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ethan Ampadu in the starting XI.
It will be interesting to see how many changes Sarri is prepared to make following the humiliation on the weekend. Malmo will be fresh but their lack of competitive action could work against them and the Blues should come away with the win.
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