WASHINGTON, DC, Sporting Alert – Kurt Zouma will partner Gary Cahill in the heart of the defense for Chelsea in tonight’s International Champions Cup against Barcelona at FedExField.
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Zouma comes in to replace captain John Terry, who starts on the bench, while Branislav Ivanovic, who was today named as the vice-captain, will lead the side with Terry not starting.
The goalkeepers are out to warm up… #CFCTour https://t.co/d4lWbEdeLg
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 28, 2015
Kenedy starts tonight after Fluminese gave him permission to play in tonight’s game. #CFCTour pic.twitter.com/sKCOQxJC74
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 28, 2015
Cesar Azpilicueta will join Ivanovic, Zouma and Cahill in the backline, as manager Jose Mourinho makes changes from the side that started in the last game against PSG.
Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic, Eden Hazard, Oscar and young Kenedy will start as well with Diego Costa leading the attack.
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique named a very youthful starting team with the likes of Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Pedro, Thomas Vermaelen Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto all starting the game on the bench.
Nevertheless, there are still a lot of talents in the starting XI as Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Adriano, Rakitic and Jeremy Mathieu get starting places.
Marc Bartra, Douglas, Gerard Gumbau, Sandro and El Haddadi Munir will all try to impress the manager as they continue to work on their fitness ahead of the new season.
Barcelona, who are playing in their third preseason game, are hoping to bounce back from the 3-1 defeat to another English Premier League side, Manchester United on Saturday.
The Spanish Champions are without key players, such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Dani Alves and Javier Mascherano.
For Mourinho, Bertrand Traore, Nathaniel Chalobah, Asmir Begovic, Ramires, Falcao, John Obi Mikel, Loic Remy, Willian, Juan Cuadrado and Jamal Blackman are available as substitutes.
Chelsea defeated PSG on penalties in their last International Champions Cup game at the weekend after both clubs ended 90 minutes locked at 1-1.
Barcelona Team: Ter Stegen, Adriano, Bartra, Mathieu, Douglas, Rakitic, Busquets, Gumbau, Sandro, Suarez, Munir
Chelsea Team: Courtois, Ivanovic, Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Fabregas, Matic, Kenedy, Oscar, Hazard, Diego Costa.
