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So this morning I’m making coffee, flipping through my phone when I spot the FC Astana vs Chelsea game coming up. Figured folks might be wondering who’s gonna start, especially with Chelsea traveling far. Lots of “expected lineups” floating around, but honestly, they all seemed kinda different. Got me thinking, maybe I should just piece it together myself based on the latest news. Didn’t feel like waiting for someone else to confirm it.
Where I Started
First thing, grabbed my laptop and the big mug of coffee – essential fuel. Headed straight to a few news sites I usually check for football stuff. Wasn’t looking for official announcements yet, just reports on who’s training, who took the plane to Kazakhstan, who the reporters saw looking sharp.
Kept seeing the same few Chelsea names popping up consistently. That keeper who catches everything? Yeah, Sanchez. Seemed nailed on to start. Then those guys in front of him, you know the back four? Gusto on the right side. Badiashile and Disasi, the two big lads in the middle. And Cucurella over on the left. Makes sense with the hurt guys still out.
The Tricky Bits
Moving further up, it got fuzzier. Remembered seeing something about Ugochukwu maybe getting a chance? People were talking about him in midfield. Seemed plausible, especially with others resting. Then who alongside him? Harder to pin down. Lots of chatter about Matos and Caicedo. Kept seeing Matos‘s name more frequently linked to this particular game. Made a mental note.
Okay, the fun part – attackers! Everyone loves guessing this bit. Chelsea’s got options, but for Astana, maybe they’ll pack the middle? Kept seeing Palmer mentioned a lot, that tricky new guy. They paid good money for him, probably wants to play. Then who does he play off? Needed to see who traveled. Broja‘s name kept coming up strong. Like, everywhere. Felt solid. And Mudryk, that super quick guy on the left? Yeah, seemed a likely starter too.
Putting It All Down
Felt like I had enough pieces. Time to stop scrolling and write it down. Opened my little notebook (yes, still use paper sometimes!). Flipped to a blank page and scribbled “Astana vs CHELSEA Probable Lineup” at the top. Penciled it in position by position.
Started with Sanchez in goal. Easy. Then built the defense:
- Right: Gusto
- Center: Badiashile
- Center: Disasi
- Left: Cucurella
The midfield double pivot felt a bit more guesswork, but went with what seemed strongest:
- Midfield: Ugochukwu
- Midfield: Matos
Then the attack, tried to map it out realistically:
- Attacking Mid: Palmer
- Left Wing: Mudryk
- Striker: Broja
Stared at it for a second. It felt right based on all the breadcrumbs I’d gathered. Looked balanced, considered the injuries, and made sense for a game like this.
Sharing the Guesswork
Finished the last sip of my now-cold coffee. Figured, why not put it out there? Typed up the list nice and clean, making sure the names were spelled right – no messing that up. Added a little note saying it was my best guess based on the latest travel and training news. Hit share.
Later that evening, remembered I left my notebook open on the coffee table. Walked back in to see my toddler daughter had “helped” by adding some lovely crayon swirls across the page. Right over the Astana lineup section. Perfect. Guess my prediction is truly unique now!