Chelsea faces Leeds United this Wednesday (3), at 5:15 pm (Londres time), at the Elland Road stadium, in the 14th round of the Premier League 2025/26. Coach Enzo Maresca released the official lineup minutes before kickoff.
The London team enters the field in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with emphasis on the Brazilian Estêvão, aged 18, who starts as a starter for the first time in the competition. The young striker occupies the position on the right in the attacking trio.
Liam Delap, recently signed, will be the reference center forward. The attack also has João Pedro and Jamie Gittens on the wings.
Full Chelsea lineup
Robert Sánchez will be the goalkeeper. The defense has Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo as central defenders, with Benoît Badiashile and Marc Cucurella on the flanks.
In midfield, Andrey Santos and Enzo Fernández form the midfielder duo. The Argentine captain returns after serving suspension.
- Goalkeeper: Robert Sánchez
- Defense: Chalobah, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Cucurella
- Middle: Andrey Santos, Enzo Fernández (C)
- Attack: Estêvão, João Pedro, Gittens, Liam Delap
Important absences in the cast
Chelsea remains without Moisés Caicedo, suspended, and Levi Colwill, injured. Mykhaylo Mudryk is serving disciplinary punishment and is also out.
On the bench, names like Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Reece James and Alejandro Garnacho remain as luxury options for the second half. The young Marc Guiu completes the alternatives in attack.
Context of the confrontation
Chelsea comes in third place in the table, with 24 points in 13 games. The team won four of the last five matches before the draw in the previous round.
Leeds occupies an intermediate position and is looking for points at home to get closer to the classification zone for European competitions. The recent history favors the Londoners, who have won the last three direct duels.
Numbers that attract attention
Estêvão, revealed by Palmeiras, has two assists in six games this season. The 18-year-old Brazilian competes directly for a place with Cole Palmer, who starts on the bench for the first time since his arrival.
Liam Delap has recorded three goals in eight appearances since leaving Ipswich. The 21-year-old center forward receives his first opportunity as a starter in place of Nicolas Jackson, traded in the middle of the year.
Leeds United situation
Daniel Farke climbs Leeds in the traditional 3-5-2. Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri remains the absolute starter in goal.
The defense has Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha form the attacking duo, while Ao Tanaka and Anton Stach reinforce the midfield.
The home team is without Daniel James, out due to injury. Full-back Sean Longstaff also remains in the medical department.
Expectations for the game
The confrontation pits two coaches renowned for their offensive work face to face. Maresca bets on the speed of young people to explore the spaces left by Leeds.
Chelsea seeks to maintain its distance from the first placed teams. A win in Elland Road could consolidate the team at the top of the table before the string of festive games.
