Chelsea welcomes the first game of the schedule! Burnley s trip becomes a preview of the tough battle between Barcelona and Arsenal

Chelsea’s Christmas Devil schedule is coming! This Saturday's away game against Burnley may seem like an ordinary Premier League matchup, but it is actually the beginning of nine fierce battles for the team in 29 days. More importantly, this will be an important preview of two focus matches against Barcelona and Arsenal next week, which will have a profound impact on the Blues' championship and European war journey.

The international match day is the last chance for Blues players to breathe, and what awaits them next is a series of intensive schedules. Against Burnley, Chelsea had a good opportunity to grab points: Burnley, currently ranked fourth from the bottom in the Premier League, has conceded fewer goals than West Ham United and Wolves. It has only completed 2 clean sheets so far this season, and there are obvious loopholes in the defense. For Chelsea, currently ranked third in the standings, winning this victory will not only consolidate the ranking, but also continue the good momentum of the 3-0 victory over Wolves before the international break, and gain confidence for subsequent tough battles.

However, compared to grabbing points, the "warm-up value" of this game has attracted more attention. Next Tuesday, Chelsea will face Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in the focus of the Champions League; and then on Sunday, they will have a strong dialogue with Arsenal in the league. These two games are directly related to the Blues' qualifying for the European War and the Premier League championship. The match against Burnley is the best opportunity for the team to adjust their offense and defense and adjust their status. The defensive end needs to find a stable rhythm in advance, and the offensive players must maintain firepower and confidence. After all, they can successfully break through Burnley's defense and gain experience in the subsequent defense against Barcelona and Arsenal.

Coach Maresca is now facing a lot of teaming problems: 18-year-old Esteban is in hot form, scoring consecutive goals in the Champions League, performing crucially against Wolves as a substitute, and scoring his fourth national team goal in a friendly match with Brazil. Can he start in the Premier League for the first time since September? At the right back position, Reece James needs to control his playing time, and Marlo Gusteau is eyeing him. How to choose? In addition, after Liam Delap returned from injury, Maresca also had a new option - let Delap start and push Joao Pedro back to the 10th position.

It is worth mentioning that this is the first time Chelsea has returned to Turf Moor Stadium since losing 1-4 to Burnley in October 2023. This rematch can be regarded as the dual mission of "revenge + warm-up". Although physical reserves are crucial for subsequent tough battles, Maresca will most likely not rest the main players significantly. After all, the players' game status is also indispensable. The performance of this game will also directly reflect how strong this young Chelsea team is.

On the one hand, there is the practical need to grab points and consolidate the ranking, and on the other hand, it is the long-term consideration of warming up for strong opponents. Chelsea's trip to Burnley can be described as "killing two birds with one stone." Can they successfully win and make a good start for the Devils schedule? What surprises will Maresca's formation bring? Let’s wait and see!