Hello and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE text commentary of the Europa League semi-final first-leg clash between Bundesliga's Eintracht Frankfurt and Chelsea. Maurizio Sarri underlined why registering a top-four spot in the Premier League was the priority this season in his pre-match press conference and he has chosen to rest Eden Hazard tonight. It's a bold call. Full team news to follow, kick-off is 45 minutes away!
Europa League / Semi-final
Deutsche Bank Park / 02.05.2019
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/match/football-header-bg-mobile.jpg)
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/sport/football/club/logo/300/4046.png){kind=logo}
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/sport/football/club/logo/300/4034.png){kind=logo}
Live
Live Updates
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 02/05/2019 at 20:50 GMT
6'
The Spanish referee is seemingly happy to keep the game flowing, as another late challenge in midfield is ignored.
5'
Abraham wins the ball from Loftus-Cheek with a hefty challenge, but the referee allows play to continue. Sarri fumes.
3'
Pedro weaves his way down the right and feeds it back to Willian. He wins a corner. Frankfurt deal with it and then Kante's drive from distance rolls out harmlessly for a goal-kick.
2'
Frankfurt are contesting their first semi-final in European competition in 39 years; the Blues last played in such an occasion in 2014 when they were knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid.
1st Half
1'
KICK-OFF! Chelsea, in all yellow, get the game underway.
19:55
Here comes the players. It's a wonderful atmosphere in Frankfurt, the supporters are going absolutely crazy. The club has spent a lot of time in the second-tier of German football in recent years, but the good times are back. And is it about to get better? Kick-off is NEXT!
19:50
TEN MINUTE WARNING
A reminder of the starting line-ups as we approach kick-off at Commerzbank-Arena...
Frankfurt: Trapp, Hinteregger, Abraham, Hasebe, Falette, Fernandes, Rode, Da Costa, Jovic, Kostic, Gacinovic. Subs: Ronnow, Ndicka, De Guzman, Willems, Torro, Chandler, Paciencia.
Chelsea: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Christensen, Emerson, Kante, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Willian, Giroud, Pedro.
19:45
Giroud may be leading the competition's goalscoring charts, but Jovic isn't far behind. The Frankfurt striker has bagged eight goals in 12 Europa League matches this season and with Chelsea having problems in defence, could he add to his tally tonight?
19:40
Frankfurt are a club rejuvenated and currently occupying fourth spot in the Bundesliga, they're on course for their highest ever finish since 1992-93.
They score a ton of goals under Hutter and have already knocked out Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter and Benfica. Clearly, they're not to be underestimated.
19:35
Sarri has told BT Sport that Hazard has played the last 10 games and he didn't want the magical Belgian to play 90 minutes tonight. It's a very odd call, but will it throw the home side's game-plan into disarray? Presumably they have spent an awful long time preparing on how to deal with the attacker.
19:30
The competition's highest goalscorer Giroud leads the line and is hoping to add to his 10 Europa League goals.
But it's the defence Sarri is worried about. Andreas Christensen is the only centre-back available, claims the Italian, and he partners David Luiz at the heart of the defence line.
19:25
Speaking on BT Sport, pundit Glenn Hoddle says dropping Hazard is a real head-scratcher. "It will give Frankfurt a huge lift before the game," he added. I have to agree, so does Owen Hargreaves, who believes Sarri is taking a risk in dropping the Belgian.
19:20
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
Starting XI: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Christensen, Emerson, Kante, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Willian, Giroud, Pedro.
Subs: Caballero, Zappacosta, Alonso, Kovacic, Barkley, Hazard, Higuain.
So Hazard is on the bench, which is a disappointment for the neutral. In total, Sarri makes five changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Manchester United. Andreas Christensen fills in at centre-back, while Emerson, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Olivier Giroud and Pedro are also restored to the starting XI.
19:16
FRANKFURT TEAM NEWS
Starting XI: Trapp, Hinteregger, Abraham, Hasebe, Falette, Fernandes, Rode, Da Costa, Jovic, Kostic, Gacinovic.
Subs: Ronnow, Ndicka, De Guzman, Willems, Torro, Chandler, Paciencia.
Adi Hutter has made two changes to his side that drew 0-0 with Hertha Berlin at the weekend. Ante Rebic misses out through suspension, while Jonathan de Guzman starts on the bench. In come Simon Falette and Mijat Gacinovic.