Lille
Opposite will be Lille, a team that snatched Ligue 1 from the almighty PSG last season, but is coming down. Some of its stars have come out, like Soumaré or Ikoné; and others, like Yilmaz, have stopped shining. The change of coach hasn’t helped either: Christophe Galtier managed to make the French club a national contender, but left in the summer. And Jocelyn Gourvennec, the new tenant on the bench, has had a difficult course. Especially in the domestic championship, where Les Dogues (the mastiffs) are in eleventh place.
Very different has been their role in the group stage of the Champions League, in which they beat Salzburg and Seville, and took first place, against all odds. For this reason, Chelsea will have to play the second leg at the Pierre-Marouy stadium, although away goals have lost their double value, and the London team will not start with such a disadvantage.
Ace to follow: Renato Sanches. Reconnecting with his football at Lille. A very important asset for the French, who have to match the physical battle with Chelsea.