Prediction and odds for the game: Chelsea (4/11) v Rennes (15/2)
We are backing Timo Werner to be an anytime goalscorer at odds of 4/5
When: Wednesday, 4th November 2020, Kick-off 20:00
Where: Stamford Bridge
On Wednesday night, Chelsea host French team Rennes at Stamford Bridge in Group E of the Champions League, as the home team look to continue their decent recent form.
Chelsea
The Blues endured a difficult start to their campaign with several new players attempting to settle into their new team. However, Frank Lampard’s team heads into Wednesday’s game on the back of nine games in all competitions. A 3-0 win at Burnley last time out was their second straight win after a 4-0 win at Krasnodar in the Champions League. The game against the Clarets last time out saw the Blues keep a fourth straight clean sheet, a much-improved record from earlier in the season when they looked highly vulnerable at the back.
Chelsea have an underwhelming recent record in Europe’s elite competition, having won just two of their previous seven matches in the Champions League. This season’s games in Group E has seen a marked improvement in defence from last season’s European campaign, as they had failed to keep a clean sheet in their previous five matches in the competition.
The Blues have struggled for Champions League wins at Stamford Bridge, winning just once in their previous eight outings. To be fair to the team from south west London, five of those home games have finished in draws.
Chelsea will be without USA international Christian Pulisic through a hamstring injury, while young central midfielder Billy Gilmour is also ruled out through injury.
Rennes
The visitors established themselves as an exciting young team last season in Ligue One. Julien Stephan’s team started the new campaign in a decent fashion, as they currently sit third place in the French top-flight table.
However, despite their current lofty position in Ligue One, the Red and Blacks have won just once in five competitive outings. In fact, a 2-1 home win over Brest last time out ended a four-game winless run for the French side in all competitions.
Their debut campaign in the Champions League has not been great either, as they have picked just one point from their two games in Europe’s elite competition. They kicked off their European campaign with a 1-1 home draw against Krasnodar before a 1-0 defeat in Andalucia against Sevilla.
Rennes’ cause has not been helped of late by an injury to highly-rated young central midfielder Eduardo Camavinga. The 17-year-old is one of the most highly-rated coveted young players in the European game.
Conclusion
Chelsea are big favourites to win this clash, as things now look to be coming together for the Blues at both ends of the pitch. We are going to take a punt on the under 2.5 goals at 6/5, as Rennes most recent games have not been the highest-scoring and the French team will look to keep it tight. The other bet we are going to back is Timo Werner to be an anytime goalscorer, as the German now looks to have found his feet in front of goal for the Blues.
Verdict: We are backing Timo Werner to be an anytime goalscorer at odds of 4/5 and under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 6/5. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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Will Chelsea continue their recent good form on Wednesday night?