Mateo Kovacic comes into the Chelsea starting lineup in place of Ross Barkley as the Blues prepare to take on Ajax in their third Champions League encounter.
Frank Lampard has made just one change to the side that started in the 1-0 win over Newcastle United this past weekend as Chelsea get set to lock horns with Ajax in Amsterdam.
Kepa Arrizabalaga keeps his place in goal for the visitors, with the defence in front of him unchanged as well. Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso retain their places as the two full-backs while Kurt Zouma partners Fikayo Tomori at the heart of the Chelsea defence.
The teams are in! Here’s how we line up against Ajax! ?#AJACHE pic.twitter.com/OEAjMBzzuG
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 23, 2019
The only change comes in midfield, with Ross Barkley missing out due to an ankle injury he sustained on the weekend. Barkley is replaced by Mateo Kovacic, who accompanies Jorginho in the double pivot, with teenage prodigy Billy Gilmour a back midfield option.
The four-man attacking unit has not been tinkered with either, with Lampard choosing to not fix what is not broken. Willian and Callum Hudson-Odoi are, therefore, the two wingers for Chelsea, with Mason Mount reprising the no. 10 role. Tammy Abraham will lead the line against Ajax.
Chelsea Starting XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Alonso; Kovacic, Jorginho; Willian, Mount, Hudson-Odoi; Abraham
