LOSC - Chelsea

- kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Sanches has been in glittering form for Lille this season, in the 97th percentile league-wide for shot-creating actions, which has contributed to him providing a team-high five assists in Ligue 1 Conforama.

The 24-year-old Portugal midfielder was shining against AS Saint-Étienne last Friday, too, but had to make way for Amadou Onana 25 minutes into the goalless draw at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, and Lille have since confirmed they expect him to be out for around three weeks.

Dogues finding their bite

The first-leg loss - which the European champions won with goals from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic - was Lille's only defeat in six games across all competitions, and Jocelyn Gourvennec is confident his side can bounce back.

"It'll be a completely different game," he said. "We had a very good match in the first leg, but we'll have the home fans behind us, and we need them. We need them to create doubt.

Watch: Highlights of Lille's goalless draw with Saint-Étienne

"If we want to pull it off we mustn't make mistakes. It's a big match and we'll respond to that. It'll be a difficult game, but we can't help but dream. Some might say it's impossible. Chelsea won't make it easy."

Timothy Weah stands to be the biggest beneficiary of Sanches's absence from the right of LOSC's midfield, and Gourvennec's words suggest he may revert to a 4-4-2 having used a 4-3-3 in the first leg.

Right-side ruction

Lille have an otherwise clean bill of health, which isn't something Chelsea can boast. Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi have hamstring and Achilles injuries respectively, so the pressure is on Cesar Azpilicueta to overcome illness and line up on their right flank.

More significant issues off the pitch have impacted Chelsea of late, with Roman Abramovich ceding control of the club and UEFA imposing a spending cap, throwing their travel plans into disarray.

Tuchel: 'I'll drive'

"I think practically changed more for the guys who for example organised the journey to Lille because they had to figure out how we arrive there," said Gourvennec's opposite number, Thomas Tuchel.

"My last information is we're getting a plane. So we can go by plane and come back by plane. If not, we'll go by train. If not, we'll go by bus. If not, I'll drive a seven-seater. Honestly, I'll do it. You can mark my words; I will do to arrive there."

Possible teams

Lille: Jardim; Çelik, Fonte, Botman, Djalo; Weah, André, Xeka, Bamba; Ben Arfa; David

Chelsea: Mendy; Christensen, Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Niguez; Pulisic, Mount; Havertz