CHELSEA manager Frank Lampard will continue to experiment with his starting line-up when the Blues face Barcelona in Saitama today.
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| Lampard and his Chelsea side face a tough test in the form of La Liga champions Barcelona as they continue their pre-season tour in Japan. |
The new Blues boss has got off to a mixed start since taking over from Maurizio Sarri, with the west London club drawing against Bohemians, beating St Patrick’s and losing to Kawasaki Frontale in his first three matches.
Lampard resisted the urge to make wholesale changes at half-time during Friday’s defeat but is expected to shuffle his pack for the Rakuten Cup clash with Barca.
However, N’Golo Kante is unavailable with the Frenchman returning to the UK following a recurrence of a knee problem suffered before the Europa League final last season.
Kante is still expected to be fit in time for the Premier League opener against Manchester United, although the 28-year-old is unlikely to feature again during the pre-season programme.
Kepa Arrizabalaga and Tammy Abraham are both back in training after missing the loss to Kawasaki Frontale due to illness, but neither are likely to be risked from the start against Barca.
Willy Caballero should continue in goal while captain Cesar Azpilicueta will get the nod at right-back again, although Davide Zappacosta will hope to feature after playing 45 minutes last week.
Andreas Christensen was also a half-time substitute on Friday and should start, while Fikayo Tomori may come in for David Luiz at centre-back after the Brazilian played the whole 90 minutes last time out.
Chelsea team news: Frank Lampard is expected to rotate his squad once more against the La Liga side (Image: GETTY)
Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso could rotate once again while Danny Drinkwater or Tiemoue Bakayoko may be given a chance to shine from the off in place of Mateo Kovacic.
Ross Barkley impressed in the No 10 role and could start in place of Mason Mount, although the youngster has shone on tour and is staking a claim for more game time ahead of the Premier League campaign.
Pedro may be preferred on the right wing once more while Christian Pulisic offers an alternative to Kenedy out wide.
Up front, Olivier Giroud should start after coming on at half-time for Michy Batshuayi in the previous match although he needs to improve on what was a lacklustre performance.
Chelsea predicted line-up vs Barcelona –Pre-season friendly
(4–2-3-1): Caballero; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Tomori, Palmieri; Jorginho, Drinkwater; Pedro, Barkley, Pulisic; Giroud
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