Seeking to get their Club World Cup campaign back on track, Chelsea face Esperance Tunis at Lincoln Field on Wednesday morning.
Enzo Maresca’s men made a solid if unspectacular start to life in Group D, claiming a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC last Monday.
However, the Blues' shock 3-1 loss to Fluminense on matchday two means that qualification to the knockout round is not yet assured.
Thus, Chelsea can ill-afford to have another fruitless outing when they face Esperance Tunis on matchday three.
After falling to a 2-0 defeat in their group opener with Fluminense, the Tunisian giants gave their qualification hopes a shot in the arm by earning a narrow 1-0 win over LAFC last time out.
That means Maher Kanzari’s men now know that a win over Chelsea would guarantee them second spot in the section and a place in the knockout round.
How the bookies view it: Blues to cruise to victory
The bookmakers fully expect Chelsea to rebound from their matchday two defeat, with the Blues big favourites here at 1/4 on Boylesports. Having won their opening game and keeping a clean sheet for good measure, backing Chelsea to win to nil here looks like a nice value alternative at 10/11 (Boylesports).
Esperance Tunis are as big as 17/2 on Boylesports to pull off a shock victory while an all square affair is also considered unlikely at 4/1 with the same firm.
Head to head: History book blank
While Esperance Tunis and Chelsea both featured fairly regularly in the old format of the Club World Cup, the two teams will go toe-to-toe for the first time ever this week.
Players to watch: Delap to do damage?
Liam Delap impressed on his debut for Chelsea on matchday one, coming off the bench to set up Enzo Fernandez's goal. With Delap expected to lead the line here, he looks well worthy of support to bag his first Blues goal at 21/20 (Boylesports).
Youcef Belaili scored the only goal of the game during Esperance Tunis’ 1-0 win over LAFC last time out. The Algerian international is as big as 5/1 on Boylesports to make the net bulge for the second game in succession.
Predicted line-ups
Having secured their maiden win of the competition on matchday two, Esperance Tunis manager Kanzari is expected to name the same starting XI on Wednesday morning.
With Nicolas Jackson suspended following his red card against Flamengo, the aforementioned Delap is again expected to spearhead Chelsea’s attack. Elsewhere, captain Reece James could also earn a recall to the first XI.
Esperance Tunis: Ben said; Ben Ali, Tougai, Meriah, Ben Hamida; Mokwana, Guenichi, Ogbelu, Konate; Belaili; Rodrigo
Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Delap
Anything else catch the eye?
Enzo Fernandez looks overpriced to register a minimum of one shot on target during this contest at 23/20 with UniBet.
The all-action Argentine midfielder hit the target twice against LAFC on matchday one, with one of those efforts ending up in the back of the net.
It’s also worth noting that Fernandez got himself on the scoresheet during Chelsea’s recent 4-1 win over Real Betis in the Europa Conference League final.
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