Chelsea welcome League One outfit Port Vale to Stamford Bridge for their FA Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday.
The Blues survived a major scare to defeat Championship side Wrexham 4–2 after extra time in a dramatic FA Cup fifth-round encounter.
Vale secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Sunderland to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Match preview
Chelsea are a four-game losing run in the Premier League and Champions League, scoring just two goals and conceding 12.
The Blues were battered 8-2 on aggregate by Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League.
They have also suffered defeats to Newcastle United (1-0) and Everton (3-0) in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s quest for Champions League qualification is in doubt as they are currently in sixth place, six points off fourth-placed Aston Villa in the Premier League table.
Liam Rosenior’s side will now shift focus to the FA Cup, their sole remaining chance of silverware this season.
The Blues will be optimistic about booking a seventh FA Cup semi-final spot in the last decade.
They boast a flawless record against lower-league sides, with 37 cup-tie wins since their 4-2 defeat to Bradford City in the 2015/16 campaign.
Vale will relish their first FA Cup quarter-final appearance in 72 years and will be aiming to pull off a stunning upset against the Premier League side.
They have endured a difficult campaign in League One this season. They are 14 points adrift of safety, leaving them on the edge of relegation.
The two sides last met in April 1929 in a league encounter, which the Valiants won 1-0.
Team news
Chelsea will be without Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill, but Jamie Gittens and Estevao Willian are fine to return to the matchday squad.
Enzo Fernandez is out due to disciplinary action following his comments made during the international break.
Ben Heneghan, George Byres and Jayden Stockley are sidelined with injuries for the visitors.
Predicted line-ups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez, Acheampong, Tosin, Sarr, Hato, Lavia, Santos, Estevao, Neto, Garnacho, Delap.
Port Vale (4-2-3-1): Gauci, Lawrence-Gabriel, C. Hall, Humphreys, John, Gordon, Ojo, Walters, Waine, Brown, Archer.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Port Vale.
