Chelsea vs Slavia: Marcos Alonso’s late winner sees Blues take one step towards semi-final
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Marcos Alonso's late header dragged a lacklustre Chelsea to a 1-0 Europa League win at Slavia Prague.
The Spain full-back ghosted clear in the box to nod home Willian's teasing far-post cross, to hand the Blues the slender advantage midway through their quarter-final.
Chelsea came very close drawing their last-eight first leg tie at the Sinobo Stadium, the Blues struggling for fluency throughout a niggly night in Prague.
Replacement Ruben Loftus-Cheek's smart spin and break turned Slavia's defence at the death however, before Willian served up the perfect cross.
Alonso's third goal of the season and second in the Europa League proved just enough for Chelsea then, but the Stamford Bridge men will hardly be happy with their performance.
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Welcome to The Independent's live coverage from the Europa League quarter-finals as Arsenal host Napoli and Chelsea travel to Slavia Prague.
Arsenal make five changes to the team that lost narrowly at Everton last weekend. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back in the side, while Laurent Koscielny, Lucas Torreira and Aaron Ramsey all come in. Petr Cech starts, too, replacing Bernd Leno.
For Napoli, Lorenzo Insigne makes a welcome return from injury. David Ospina, on loan from Arsenal, only makes the bench.
Plenty of changes for Chelsea, then. There's no place in the starting lineup for Eden Hazard, who drops to the bench. Pedro, Willian and Olivier Giroud make up the Blues' front three, while Andreas Christensen and Mateo Kovacic both start.
This is by some way Arsenal's biggest challenge in what has been a fairly routine Europa League campaign. Napoli, who finished level on points with Liverpool in their Champions League group but missed out on goals scored, are one of the favourites to win the competition.
Carlo Ancelotti's side have stuttered somewhat domestically of late. But they overcame the difficult test of RB Leipzig in the last 16 of the Europa League and might fancy their chances over two legs against an Arsenal side with a poor record away from home.
That is why tonight's first leg is so crucial. Unai Emery will know that taking a lead to Naples is imperative, so the pressure will be on the home side to take the game to their opposition.
Chelsea are strong favourites to get the better of tonight's opposition, Slavia Prague, but they will need to be wary of complacency. The Czech side have only lost three games in their league this season and knocked out Sevilla in the last 16.
Maurizio Sarri's team selection, though, suggests he is confident of getting a result without needing to risk some of his most important players. The priority, clearly, is to finish in the top four in the Premier League.
Some pre-match reading: Eden Hazard, who only makes the bench tonight, has suggested Chelsea's players are beginning to get used to the demands of their coach. The Blues have won four of their last five heading into this evening's game.
Arsenal fans will have fond memories of hosting Napoli. The Gunners beat their Italian opposition 2-0 at the Emirates in the Champions League group stages back in 2013, and a certain Mesut Ozil - who starts again tonight - scored his first goal for the club.
Napoli have their work cut out to leave London with anything less than a defeat. The Emirates has become something of a fortress for the Gunners - domestically and in Europe - this season.
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