Champions League predictions: Chelsea can advance with a fifth straight victory

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Lille v Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Chelsea
1pt 19-20 Coral

Team news

Lille
Benjamin Andre could return from illness but Renato Sanches is injured.

Chelsea
Cesar Azpilicueta is available after illness but Ben Chilwell, Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi remain sidelined.

Match preview

Chelsea might have to prepare for a bumpy ride in the years ahead but the sanctioning of Roman Abramovich seems to have had little immediate impact on player performance and the club's serene progress on the field can be maintained with a victory away to Lille in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Since Abramovich was sanctioned Chelsea have registered league wins away to Norwich (3-1) and at home to Newcastle (1-0) to stay firmly on course for a top-three finish.

They would love to add another trophy before the start of a possible talent drain and are 1-25 to reach the Champions League last eight, having established a 2-0 lead over Lille.

Last month's first leg was evenly contested and the shot count was 15 to nine in the French side's favour, but despite those eye-catching statistics, it was Chelsea who carved out the game's biggest opportunities and their defence, expertly marshalled by Thiago Silva, ensured a quiet night's work for Edouard Mendy.

Lille have been on a five-game unbeaten run in Ligue 1, keeping clean sheets in all of them, but they need to find at least two goals against Chelsea and that looks a tall order, bearing in mind they managed just one in their group-stage home games.

Lille's star attacker, Jonathan David, was taken off after an hour of Friday's 0-0 draw at home to struggling St-Etienne, and does not appear to be in the mood to spark a stunning fightback against the Blues, who should extend their winning sequence to five games.

Key stat

Chelsea have won six of their last seven matches

Inside info

Lille

Penalty taker Jonathan David
Free-kick wizard Jonathan David
Set-piece aerial threat Sven Botman
Card magnet Mehmet Celik

Chelsea

Penalty taker Kai Havertz/Jorginho
Free-kick wizardMason Mount
Set-piece aerial threatAntonio Rudiger
Card magnetMarcos Alonso

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