Chelsea vs. Burnley, at Stamford Bridge, in matchweek 27 of the Premier League. The Blues have not achieved enough consistency to be fighting for the trophy, despite arriving with the Conference League and Club World Cup titles under their belt. Now, the only mission is to qualify for an international competition: they have 44 points and are in a UEFA spot, one point behind Manchester United.

For their part, the Clarets have just returned to the top flight, and the difference in power was noticeable: they were weaker than their rivals. And due to this reduced capacity, the squad led by coach Scott Parker has not been able to maintain sustained performance: they have only 18 points (nine behind Nottingham Forest, which marks the safety line), are second-to-last, and risk relegation again.

Chelsea's squad was at its peak in morale, with a 4-0 win over Hull City in the FA Cup, showcasing their efficiency under the orders of new coach Liam Rosenior. With that, they cleaned up their image after a negative result: they drew 2-2 against Leeds, which was promoted for this season. That draw broke their great home streak: they had defeated Brentford (2-0), Pafos (1-0), and West Ham (3-2).

On their side, the Clarets come from a bittersweet situation: they lost, at home, to Mansfield (1-2), from the third tier, in the FA Cup. Although they are out of the competition, that will take pressure off their schedule to achieve survival. Precisely, in their previous league appearance, they shone with a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace, breaking their 16-match winless streak.

Chelsea's main offensive threat is Brazilian Joao Pedro, who has scored at least one goal in four of the five recent performances in this competition. One step behind come two playmakers in midfield: Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer recorded eight goals. However, the main concern is defense: Wesley Fofana will have to partner with Trevoh Chalobah.

And at Burnley, Jaidon Anthony is the most relevant man, with six goals, and he just scored in the 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. At the same time, midfielder Zian Flemming, with five, also stood out, although he was injured for more than a month and is gradually returning to the pitch. Likewise, the work of Kyle Walker, guarding the right flank, and Martin Dubravka, in goal, is essential.

Injuries and doubts for the match:

Out: Levi Colwill (knee), Marc Cucurella (hamstring), Filip Jorgensen (unspecified), Dario Essugo (unspecified), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (thigh)

Doubtful: Romeo Lavia (thigh)

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