Chelsea v Salzburg predictions: Potter can conjure up the winning formula

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

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Chelsea to win & under 3.5 goals
1pt 11-8 bet365

Team news

Chelsea
N’Golo Kante is still sidelined and Edouard Mendy is expected to miss out, meaning there should be a start in goal for Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Salzburg
The Austrians have a long list of injuries with Maximilian Wober, Kamil Piatkowski, Bryan Okoh, Mamady Diambou, Samson Tijani and Sekou Koita all sidelined. Oumar Solet limped off in last week's draw with Milan and may miss out while Luka Sucic is a doubt.

Match preview

Graham Potter’s tenure as Chelsea manager begins with a visit from Salzburg in the Champions League and there is already some pressure on the former Brighton boss to hit the ground running with victory at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues were beaten 1-0 at Dinamo Zagreb last Tuesday, which called time on the reign of Thomas Tuchel, and starting Group E with consecutive defeats would put them on the backfoot.

There are immediate issues for Potter to address and ultimately patience from supporters is required, but the 47-year-old will be well aware that results are more important than performances at this early stage.

Goals have been the main problem for the Blues and getting their frontline to click is one of the biggest challenges Potter faces, but they also need to tighten things up defensively.

Raheem Sterling, who has three goals in seven games, is the only Chelsea player to have netted more than once this season while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looked well off the pace on his debut in Zagreb last week and may need time to build up his fitness.

With Inconsistencies continuing to hamper Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic, it’s difficult to see how they can be transformed into a free-scoring side in such a short period of time.

What should be expected from Potter’s team, however, is hard work and organisation and that could go some way to improving a defence that has managed just one clean sheet in seven competitive games this term.

Despite Salzburg’s eye for a goal, that could contribute to a hard-fought win and backing Chelsea to prevail in a game featuring no more than three goals gets the nod at 11-8.

Salzburg drew 1-1 at home to Milan on matchday one and have won seven of their opening eight games in Austria.

Matthias Jaissle’s side made the round of 16 in last season’s Champions League, too, but they failed to win on their travels and appear to benefit when having home advantage.

In their group-stage games on the road last season Salzburg were held to a 1-1 draw at Sevilla, lost 2-1 at Wolfsburg and were beaten 1-0 at Lille, while they were also blown away 7-1 at Bayern in the second leg of their last-16 tie.

The Austrians have lost some key attacking players from last season, none more so than top scorer Karim Adeyemi to Borussia Dortmund, so may not be as lively as considered to be last season.

Potter will be desperate to start life as Chelsea manager with a win, whatever the circumstances, and it may be a result that they ultimately have to grind out.

Key stat

Only one of Chelsea’s seven matches this season has featured four or more goals.

Inside info

Chelsea

Penalty taker Jorginho
Assist ace Raheem Sterling
Set-piece aerial threat Kalidou Koulibaly
Card magnet Reece James

Salzburg

Penalty taker Fernando
Assist ace Fernando
Set-piece aerial threat Strahinja Pavlovic
Card magnet Nicolas Capaldo

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