If Sevilla’s Europa League triumph proved one thing, it’s that they don’t know when they are beaten.
Come-from-behind wins against Manchester United and Inter Milan were evidence of that.
The Spanish club are hugely resilient in the face of adversity but also have the technical acumen to punish any lapses in concentration. Chelsea, beware.
The Blues saw precisely what can happen when you switch off in Saturday’s collapse against Southampton. They could suffer even worse at the hands of battle-hardened Sevilla if they give them the same sort of encouragement.
Here's where tonight's Champions League game will be won and lost...
N’Golo Kante vs Ivan Rakitic
Chelsea will come up against a modern great in Ivan Rakitic.
The Croatia midfielder is not as celebrated as some of the others who have operated in Barcelona’s engine room, but he was very much in keeping with the conductors who have excelled at Camp Nou before his move to Sevilla.
A brilliant user of the ball, with perfect technique to match his vision, he can hurt Chelsea.
Disrupting him from his game is the key, but much easier said than done. Which is why N’Golo Kante and more Chelsea players will need to get about him to hustle him out of possession whenever possible
Timo Werner vs Diego Carlos
If there is a player Chelsea will feel they can get at, it’s defender Diego Carlos. He’s the man who conceded penalties in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of last season’s Europa League.
Timo Werner’s pace and movement in the box may just prompt similar lapses at Stamford Bridge tonight. In fact, any of Chelsea’s forwards could cause him problems if they run at him and force him to commit.
The weekend draw against Southampton proved just how dangerous Werner and fellow new signing Kai Havertz will be for Chelsea this season.
If Carlos was watching, they may have already got into his head.
