Newcastle United make the trip to Stamford Bridge on Saturday (March 14th) and face a Chelsea side chasing Champions League qualification. The Magpies’ Premier League form has been a concern this season but they have been much better in Europe’s elite club competition.
Eddie Howe’s men were the far superior side in a 1-1 draw against Barcelona at St James’ Park on Tuesday. Harvey Barnes gave the hosts the lead, only for Lamine Yamal to equalise from the penalty spot right at the death.
Newcastle come up against a Chelsea side who suffered a 5-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night. Liam Rosenior’s troops only had themselves to blame after making several costly errors at the Parc des Princes.
There isn’t much chance of Newcastle entering the hunt for Champions League football in the final stretch of the season. They sit 13th, nine points off fifth-placed Chelsea, a position currently secures a place in Europe’s elite club competition next season.
Rosenior has made an impressive start to his reign at Stamford Bridge and his side will be tough opposition this weekend. But there are reasons that Howe can be optimistic about potentially taking all three points.
Hall is shining
Lewis Hall was sensational against Barca midweek, keeping Yamal quiet and earning rave reviews. Wayne Rooney called the English left-back “brilliant” and seems to be backing him for a place in England’s World Cup squad.
The 21-year-old will face his former club on Saturday and be tasked with nullifying the threat posed by another of Europe’s top attacking talents. Cole Palmer will likely start on the right for Chelsea, and dealing with the former Manchester City attacker will be crucial.
Hall will be full of confidence following his midweek exploits, and it bodes well for the Magpies and their job of handling Palmer. He isn’t the only one who can cause damage, as Joao Pedro is in red-hot form, and preventing them from linking up will be key.
The midfield battle
Howe will, unfortunately, be without Bruno Guimaraes when Newcastle face Chelsea, and that is a blow. But a midfield trio of Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Jacob Ramsey fared well against Barca.
Joelinton’s pitbull-like approach could be vital in trying to stop Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez from having joy in the middle of the park. The pair are instrumental in Rosenior’s system, and winning the midfield battle is a must.
If Tonali can get on the ball and work his magic, it will undoubtedly cause the Blues’ defence problems. That’s where their vulnerabilities lie, as seen with several glaring mistakes in the loss to PSG.
Counter with intent
Chelsea will probably be dominant in possession, and that might just play into Newcastle’s hands. We saw how effective Howe’s side can be on the counter when William Osula scored a late winner against Manchester United.
Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga are all pacy attackers who can make life difficult for the hosts. One weakness of Rosenior’s side is their failure to deal with such situations as seen when they squandered a two-nil lead and drew 2-2 against Leeds United.
When naming his starting lineup, Howe will need to prioritise players who can break with the ball and capitalise on the Blues losing possession. That might mean continuing with Osula up top and Nick Woltemade settling for the bench.
