Predicted Chelsea XI to face Borussia Dortmund: Koulibaly and Chilwell set to start as Havertz leads line

Chelsea face Borussia Dortmund in the last-16 of the Champions League at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday.

The Blues come into the clash off the back of a 1-1 draw against West Ham United, while the hosts came out 2-0 victors against Freiburg.

Dortmund have been red hot in the Bundesliga this season while Chelsea are struggling, sitting 10th in the Premier League.

However, a promising January transfer window saw Graham Potter’s side bring in no less than eight new faces as they look to push on towards the end of the season.

A win in the Champions League last-16 will do the world of good for Potter and his squad, who last won the competition in 2021.

The head coach has provided an update on his squad, with the 23-man travelling team announced ahead of the clash.

Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea: Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time, team news and prediction

Speaking to the press ahead of the match, Potter revealed the importance of returning players Wesley Fofana, Mateo Kovacic and Denis Zakaria.

He said: “They’re all in the squad. They (injured players) were getting closer to minutes. We have to build them up. It’s good that Denis (Zakaria), Wesley (Fofana) and Mateo (Kovacic) are with the group.”

However, several players have been left in London as Noni Madueke, David Datro Fofana and Benoit Badiashile were all unable to be registered as new signings.

Instead, Joao Felix, Enzo Fernandes and Mykhailo Mudryk made the cut while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was removed from the squad.

With this taken into account, AbsoluteChelsea have predicted the line-up ahead of Wednesday’s clash.

Possible XI: Kepa, James, Silva, Koulibaly, Chilwell, Fernandez, Loftus-Cheek, Ziyech, Felix, Mudryk, Havertz

Edouard Mendy remains sidelined and has not travelled while Marc Cucurella’s poor form could see Ben Chilwell handed a start.

Cucurella has come under criticism by sections of the Chelsea fan base, with Potter admitting that he has not formed a relationship with Mudryk yet.

“There’s no problem in terms of anything sinister at all,” he said. “It’s teammates understanding each other, quite a common problem of when to pass, what point and time.

“Against a back five, West Ham make it difficult to access the wide man’s feet. It’s his third game with us, there’s no problem. It’s more an understanding challenge.”

It remains to be seen as to who Potter will select for the huge clash in Germany.