Chealsee Vs Lille Football Prediction -UCL Wednesday

[Image Source: Football.london ]

Written By: Ifeanyi Ibeh

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Chelsea goes into the second leg of their last-16 tie with Lille at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday night, hoping to take a step closer to retaining their Champions League title.

The Blues took a 2-0 lead in the first leg at Stamford Bridge and will look to repeat their success on the pitch despite the extraordinary circumstances off it.

Thomas Tuchel's side shone under the bright lights of Europe to place one foot firmly in the quarter-finals of Europe's elite event before the sanctions against Roman Abramovich and their impact on his beloved Chelsea dominated the discourse around Stamford Bridge.

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Kai Havertz scored after just eight minutes with a bullet header past a helpless Leo Jardim in the Lille goal, and Christian Pulisic tapped home with 63 minutes remaining to round up a polished first-leg performance against Les Dogues.

While Lille’s defence was easily penetrated that night, they have proven to be a difficult nut to crack domestically in recent weeks, keeping their fifth Ligue 1 clean sheet in a row against Saint-Etienne, but they were unable to score themselves as the match ended 0-0.

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Jocelyn Gourvennec's stumbling champions are still outsiders to return to continental competition next season, but they have at least developed a much-needed sense of defensive resilience as they aim to turn the tie around and reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

Lille's only prior appearance in the last-16 came in 2007 when they fell to Manchester United. While many may dismiss Lille's chances of reaching the final eight, the Ligue 1 winners have only lost one of their last 17 games at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in all competitions.

With Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel humorously offering to drive his team to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy as sanctions against Abramovich threatening to ruin Chelsea's European voyage, one can only hope that he has remembered to carry his driving glasses.

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Despite the financial constraints, Tuchel has stated that his team will head to Lille to complete the job, and his players have done an excellent job on the pitch in the last week or so of focusing on the work at hand.

Chelsea has done an excellent job of ignoring the outside talk and circumstances surrounding the club's ownership while matches are there to be won, but they will face a hard time trying to break down Gourvennec's stubborn rearguard.

However, Lille has no other formula than an all-out attack as they seek to pull off a remarkable comeback, but such an approach will leave them vulnerable to Tuchel's clinical crop as the Blues stroll into the last eight.

So, if you have to bet on this game, we at the Mdundo.com Football Show feel Chelsea will walk away with a slim victory. We are also predicting under 3.5 goals in this match.