After late heartbreak within the Champions League for each Chelsea and Newcastle United, all sides will likely be trying to bounce again after they meet within the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (17:30 GMT).
Chelsea competed nicely for lengthy spells towards , just for a late capitulation to value them three objectives. They’ve a 5-2 deficit to beat within the second leg subsequent week again in London.
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Newcastle had been hit by a sucker punch at residence to in their very own last-16 first leg. Having been the higher facet for a lot of the competition, an 86th-minute strike from Harvey Barnes was cancelled out by Lamine Yamal’s penalty deep into harm time.
Joao Pedro and Fernandez cowl up Chelsea defensive considerations
Head coach Liam Rosenior should be struggling to discover a steadiness on the again for Chelsea, however he has been capable of get one of the best out of numerous attacking gamers – Joao Pedro particularly.
Whereas former head coach Enzo Maresca used the Brazilian in numerous methods, below Rosenior his focus has clearly shifted in direction of being on the level of the assault.
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Below the brand new boss he’s averaging extra pictures per sport – as much as 3.17 from 1.92 – and creating fewer probabilities because of this – 0.62, down from 1.32. He’s additionally making extra runs in behind the opposition defence and is coming quick for the ball much less typically.
The top consequence has been an enormous uplift in his goalscoring menace.
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Chelsea even have one of the crucial productive midfielders in European soccer on their books in Enzo Fernandez.
Because the begin of final season, solely Bruno Fernandes (59) has extra aim involvements amongst midfielders for Premier League golf equipment in all competitions than the Blues star. Fernandez was excellent in Paris, grabbing a aim and an help in a dropping trigger.
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Chelsea want all of the objectives they’ll get as there are large issues on the again.
Rosenior is but to call the identical defence in any of his video games in cost at Chelsea and so they have saved solely three clear sheets from his 16 video games.
No ahead momentum for Newcastle
At occasions this season there have been sections of the Newcastle staff which have labored nicely. However within the last third they continue to be a puzzle.
Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa have each struggled since big-money strikes in the summertime. Eddie Howe handed a chance to William Osula to steer the road towards Barcelona regardless of his inexperience, and at occasions he has opted towards fielding a striker in any respect.
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The seek for a components that works is not any shock given the respective performances of the gamers. The trio have made a complete of 44 appearances between them this calendar 12 months and have solely six aim contributions to indicate for it – three objectives and three assists.
It has been a operating theme for Newcastle all through the season. Of all of the groups within the Premier League in 2025-26, their share of objectives from forwards is the bottom within the division, with only a third of their 42 objectives coming from attackers.
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Even a few of their greatest technical midfielders have struggled to seek out the again of the web. Sandro Tonali has had 28 pictures with out scoring in 2025-26, greater than another participant within the league.
Stamford Bridge has not been a contented looking floor for Newcastle in recent times both. They’ve misplaced 11 and drawn considered one of their previous 12 video games there since a 2-0 win in 2012.