Chelsea vs Pafos injury news and predictions for Champions League clash

Ahead of Liam Rosenior’s first ever Champions League match, Mirror Football gives you everything you need to know ahead of the Chelsea head coach’s battle with Pafos

Everything you need to know about Chelsea’s injury news and the big predictions ahead of the Blues’ Champions League clash against Pafos…

1. Chelsea currently sit in 13th place in the league phase table and are targeting a victory tonight to stay in contention for the top eight. ^{Their visitors, Pafos, are situated in 26th position and are desperate for points to climb into the play-off spots.}
2. In the Cypriot First Division, Pafos are the defending champions and are currently enjoying another strong campaign, sitting in second place with a game in hand. ^{They have been prolific scorers domestically, though they have struggled to maintain that same level of consistency in European competition.}
3. Head coach Liam Rosenior has confirmed that centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo is unavailable for tonight’s match due to a hamstring injury. ^{Levi Colwill also remains a long-term absentee as he continues his rehabilitation from a serious ACL tear sustained earlier in the season.}
4. Romeo Lavia is still side-lined with a thigh problem. Cole Palmer is also being carefully monitored for a minor knee knock, though he is expected to feature in some capacity at Stamford Bridge.
5. Enzo Fernández is a significant doubt for the match after suffering from a severe viral illness that prevented him from training yesterday. ^{On a more positive note, Jamie Gittens and Estevao have both recovered from their recent bouts of illness and are back in the matchday squad.}
6. Pafos will be without their captain and talismanic striker Jairo, who is currently out of action with a calf tear. Midfielder Vlad Dragomir is also set to miss the trip to London as he recovers from an ankle injury sustained in his last league outing.
7. Illness in the Pafos Squad: Defender David Goldar has not travelled with the team after being ruled out with a heavy bout of flu earlier this week. Aside from these specific absences, manager Albert Celades has a relatively healthy squad to choose from as they look to cause an upset.
8. According to the latest Opta supercomputer simulations, Chelsea are the heavy favourites to win tonight with a probability of 87.5%. Despite their various injury concerns and recent illnesses, the Blues’ superior squad depth and home advantage are expected to prove decisive.

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