N’Golo Kante is back in the starting XI while Thiago Silva and Reece James also feature as Chelsea get set to take on FC Porto in the Champions League.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has made three changes to the side that beat Crystal Palace this past weekend for their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against FC Porto at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

The first of the three alterations comes in defence where Thiago Silva gets the nod ahead of Kurt Zouma. The Brazilian was suspended for the league game against Palace and comes in after a week’s rest. He will be partnered by captain Cesar Azpilicueta and Antonio Rudiger at the back while Edouard Mendy retains his place in the Chelsea goal.

There is a change at right wing-back as well, with Reece James coming in for Callum Hudson-Odoi. Ben Chilwell, however, holds on to his spot on the opposite flank ahead of Marcos Alonso. The big news though, is that N’Golo Kante starts for the first time after his injury during the international break. He replaces Mateo Kovacic as Jorginho’s partner in midfield for the Blues against Porto.

Moving into the attacking unit, Tuchel has put his faith in the trio of Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz once again after they did exceedingly well at the weekend. Timo Werner, Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud are all options on the bench.

Chelsea Starting Lineup: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell, Mount, Havertz, Pulisic.

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