Frankfurt vs Chelsea predicted line-up: Olivier Giroud likely to partner Eden Hazard in attack

A look ahead to the Europa League semi-final first leg at the Commerzbank Arena

Eintracht Frankfurt host Chelsea in a Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday night.

In the last round, Chelsea defeated Slavia Prague 5-3 over two legs, while Frankfurt knocked out Portugal’s Benfica on away goals in a scintillating 4-4 quarter-final tie.

Both Frankfurt and Chelsea are fourth-placed in their respective leagues, but neither team is in remarkable form - the Londoners have three wins in their last six matches, and the German side have only won two of their last six games.

The Europa League may therefore prove to be as good an opportunity for Champions League football next season as the clubs’ domestic ventures.

Predicted line-ups

• Frankfurt: Trapp; Abraham, Hasebe, Hinteregger; Da Costa, Fernandes, Rode, Kostic, Gacinovic;N Paciencia, Jovic
• Chelsea: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Christensen, Emerson; Jorginho, Kante, Barkley; Pedro, Giroud, Hazard

Adi Hutter’s side will be without Ante Rebic in their front line, as the Croatia international sees out the final days of a suspension. Chelsea have their own absentees in Callum Hudson-Odoi - whose Achilles injury will keep him out of the last few games of the season - and Willian.

What time does it start?

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Chelsea kicks off at 8pm (GMT).

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on BT Sport 3, with coverage beginning at 7:15pm.

Subscribers can also watch the game on BTSport.com and the broadcaster’s app.

Head-to-head…

Thursday evening’s clash will mark the first time the two clubs have played each other in official competition.

Chelsea are aiming to reach the Europa League final (EPA)

Form guide…

• Frankfurt: WLLWDD
• Chelsea: WWLWDD

Odds…

• Frankfurt to win: 9/5
• Chelsea to win: 31/20
• Draw: 12/5

(Odds by Betfair)

Prediction… Frankfurt 1-2 Chelsea

Frankfurt’s jubilation after overturning a 4-2 first leg defeat in the quarter-finals showed what the Europa League means to them, so expect the German team to be fired up for Thursday’s fixture.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are stuttering in the Premier League, but Maurizio Sarri’s side have saved some of their best performances this season for the Europa League, and they should possess enough quality to beat Frankfurt, even on foreign soil.

In any case, it will be a battle of the strikers, with Chelsea likely to field Olivier Giroud up front - the competition’s top scorer with 10 goals so far - and Frankfurt expected to utilise Serbia’s Luka Jovic, whose eight goals in the tournament mark the second highest return after Giroud.