Looking at Chelsea’s crucial upcoming Champions League tie

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In hindsight, a 7-1 aggregate hiding from Bayern Munich isn’t as bad as it first seemed. Other teams came off worse. However, Frank Lampard knows that more is expected of him in his second season at Chelsea. That was his first run in the Champions League as a manager. This time around, it won’t matter if he faces the best team in the world – Chelsea should not be losing any knockout tie by six goals. The expectation isn’t simply based on money either – although a £222 million spree is conditional – but also the belief in Lampard as a manager. A notoriously gifted player on the pitch, tidbits about his high IQ would often be spouted to highlight his output in a Chelsea shirt. Beyond the long-range goals, Lampard read the game well. It’s the kind of talent that suits a transition to the dugout. Hiccups happen and Chelsea will hope that a coach of Lampard’s potential can learn from them, thus making them less frequent.

A run of five clean sheets in all competitions was a clear sign of improvement over the last month. New signing Edouard Mendy has settled the defence and this foundation has been the backbone of an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions. In the Champions League, Chelsea are top of Group E ahead of Sevilla, Krasnodar, and Rennes. They are level on points with the Spanish side but ahead thanks to their superior goal difference. The value of a solid backline is clear. A tough fixture in Andalucia will probably decide who tops the group and that will dictate how hard the Blues have it in the Round of 16. Six points ahead of Krasnodar and Rennes after three games, progress to the knockout round is extremely likely for Chelsea but not yet certain. Maintaining a perfect defensive record is one way of getting over the line and Chelsea aren’t short of attacking talent either. To keep up with all of the latest betting tips in the Champions League, visit Sporty Trader site. There you will find a comprehensive guide to Europe’s premier club competition.