Salzburg v Chelsea predictions: Top spot showdown could be a classic

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

Where to watch

BT Sport 4, 5.45pm

Best bet

Both teams to score
3pts 4-5 bet365, Betfred

Benjamin Sesko to score
1pt 11-4 bet365

Team news

Salzburg
Fernando, Justin Omoregie, Ousmane Diakite, Nicolas Capaldo, Dijon Kameri and Sekou Koita are all sidelined for Salzburg, while key midfielder Luka Sucic should shake off a minor knock to start.

Chelsea
Wesley Fofana, Reece James and N'Golo Kante are all out for the Blues, while Kalidou Koulibaly is a doubt after missing the draw with Manchester United.

Preview

Graham Potter's Chelsea tenure began with a 1-1 draw at home to Salzburg in the Champions League last month and the Blues remain unbeaten under the former Brighton boss ahead of the rematch between the sides at the Red Bull Arena.

Potter has overseen five straight wins for the Blues in all competitions since that Stamford Bridge stalemate, including a key pair of victories over Milan in the Champions League.

As a result of those triumphs Chelsea can secure a spot in the last 16 of the Champions League with three points in Salzburg on Tuesday night but a Blues win is far from a foregone conclusion.

Although Potter is yet to lose as Chelsea manager, his side have looked a little sluggish in their last two Premier League outings, limping to a 0-0 draw with Brentford before being denied a victory by Casemiro's 94th-minute header in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Saturday.

Chelsea had kept five straight clean sheets in all competitions prior to the Brazilian's late intervention at the weekend, but they were overrun in midfield by the Red Devils and could again struggle to shut out Salzburg.

Chelsea's streak of clean sheets included matches against Wolves, Aston Villa and Brentford - none of whom are tearing up the Premier League this season - and the nature of this game could be very different.

Salzburg will also feel they are in contention for the Champions League knockout stages and the Austrian Bundesliga champions will leapfrog Chelsea into top spot in Group E with victory.

They could even secure a last-16 spot if they claim three points and Dinamo Zagreb and Milan draw, so they can be expected to be on the front foot.

That suits the way they play anyway - they have plundered 29 goals in 13 matches in their domestic league this season - and both teams to score represents terrific value at a shade of odds-on.

Salzburg have found the net in all four of their group games this season and, although they have a lengthy injury list, their options in the final third remain largely unaffected.

One striker who has become a regular in their European matches this term is 19-year-old Benjamin Sesko, the latest gem to be unearthed from the superb Salzburg academy.

Sesko has struck four times in the Austrian top flight this term and was lively against Chelsea in London, managing two shots, one of which was on target.

Matthias Jaissle has had a tendency to save the youngster for Champions League nights this season and he is worth backing to get on the scoresheet.