No Sergio Aguero but Andreas Christensen is still steeling himself for his toughest test in a Chelsea shirt yet.
The 21-year-old Dane, highly thought of at Stamford Bridge, is poised to return to the starting line up for the arrival of Manchester City with David Luiz suspended.
Antonio Conte has already made it clear that he "trusts" Christensen to do the job in the absence of Luiz.
The rising star has few fears, having already faced the likes of Messi, Suarez, Lewandowski and Aubemeyang during his loan spell at Borussia Moechengladbach last season.
In that time he also came up against City, then managed by Pep Guardiola's predecessor, Manuel Pellegrini.
"It was great experience, they were big games. I haven’t got the best results against themselves yet, but, hopefully, that will now come.
"It was in the Champions League, I was a young player on loan. It was what I wanted and it was good for me, big games against the best players.”
Christensen is already well aware that City are no one-man team, having faced their awesome firepower on four occasions in the Champions League last season.
Aguero hit a hat-trick against Gladbach 12 months ago. But Raheem Sterling and David Silva also netted. Gabriel Jesus and the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Leroy Sane are now set to do the damage.
Like John Stones at City, Christensen has an old head on young shoulders. His spell in Germany has forced him to grow up quickly. His success at doing so has made him an inspiring figure for Chelsea's aspiring academy stars.
“It could be a fair comparison (with John Stones). The manager wants everyone to take responsibility on the ball and that means stepping out from the back, then that’s what we will do.
"I’m happy because at the youth team we did that as well.
"At youth level, you have to play no matter what situation you are in and I think that helps a lot of the young players when they have to step up.
"I was in digs until I went to Germany. That was my first time staying alone and I got my girlfriend over, so I grew up a bit. I was on my own, I had to wash my own clothes and look after myself. It was a life experience.
"There was a Norwegian and Swedish guy I could speak to at the club, which made it a bit easier, and I knew Thorgan Hazard from Chelsea, he was the only player I knew in the beginning. But it was easy to fit in."
The system of three at the back played Gladbach has made it even easier for Christensen to adapt, vindicating his decision the interest of rivals clubs in the summer.
“We played it at Monchengladbach to start with and then changed it to a four, so I can play in either which is good for me.
"Three at the back was new when I went to Germany and I learned how to play the position.
“I knew there were teams that wanted me on loan and stuff but I knew the two years was more appropriate for me. I wanted one year to settle in and establish myself and another to play regularly and really go for it. It was two seasons at a high level.
"When you are over there, you don’t really think about what Chelsea are going to do because you have to find somewhere to live, settle in and there was the Champions League to get ready for.
"It was probably only before I went on holiday this summer, I thought about what would happen at Chelsea and if I’d get a chance, but the manager showed me he trusts me and he has a great passion for me to deliver.”