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Tonight, Friday, May 16, 2025, Chelsea have a significant opportunity to bolster their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League when they host a struggling Manchester United.
Currently occupying fifth place, Chelsea are on track for a return to Europe’s premier competition. However, their recent 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United has left them vulnerable in the race for a top-five finish.
A victory tonight against the Red Devils could propel them three points ahead of Aston Villa, depending on Villa’s result against Tottenham Hotspur also on Friday. This would put Chelsea in a commanding position heading into their final league match against Champions League hopefuls Nottingham Forest.
A potential advantage for Chelsea is that Manchester United’s primary focus will undoubtedly be on their upcoming Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur next Wednesday. Winning the Europa League would secure a surprise Champions League spot for Ruben Amorim’s 16th-placed side, offering some consolation after a disappointing Premier League campaign.
Manchester United might opt to rotate their squad ahead of the crucial European final, which could benefit Chelsea. The Red Devils have been in poor league form, failing to win any of their seven matches since the March international break, and a trip to Stamford Bridge will likely be a daunting prospect for them.
Chelsea Team News:
Chelsea face a crisis at centre-forward for tonight’s match. Nicolas Jackson is suspended for the remainder of the season after his red card against Newcastle. His usual replacement, Christopher Nkunku, is injured, and third-choice forward Marc Guiu is still recovering from fitness issues and is unavailable to start.
This leaves manager Enzo Maresca needing to find an unconventional solution upfront, with Pedro Neto potentially leading the line. The Portuguese winger has filled in centrally on several occasions this season.
In positive news for Chelsea, Reece James is available after recovering from an illness that kept him out of training earlier in the week.
Wesley Fofana and Omari Kellyman remain injured, while Mykhailo Mudryk is still suspended due to a failed drugs test. Jadon Sancho is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs. Man Utd (4-2-3-1):
- Goalkeeper: Robert Sánchez
- Defenders: Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella
- Midfielders: Moisés Caicedo, Roméo Lavia
- Attacking Midfielders: Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, Noni Madueke
- Forward: Pedro Neto
Man Utd Team News:
Ruben Amorim has indicated that he will not field a significantly weakened team tonight as preparation for the Europa League final. However, any players with lingering fitness concerns will not be risked at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United have considerable defensive issues, with several centre-backs unavailable. Matthijs de Ligt, Ayden Heaven, Lisandro Martínez, and Leny Yoro are all ruled out for the Chelsea match. Right-back Diogo Dalot is also absent, although some of these players might return for the crucial clash against Spurs.
Toby Collyer is nursing a knock and is unlikely to be risked before the Europa League final, while Joshua Zirkzee is confirmed to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Chelsea (3-4-2-1):
- Goalkeeper: André Onana
- Defenders: Willy Kambwala, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw
- Midfielders: Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia
- Attacking Midfielders: Mason Mount, Alejandro Garnacho
- Forward: Rasmus Højlund
Prediction: Chelsea 2–0 Man Utd
Given Manchester United’s focus on the Europa League final and their significant defensive absentees, coupled with Chelsea’s need for a win to boost their Champions League qualification hopes, a home victory for the Blues seems the likely outcome tonight.