Date: Wednesday, September 18 Venue: Stamford Bridge Kick-Off: 19:45 Can Jose Mourinho start with a win in his first Champions League game since returning as Chelsea manager?
Team News
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed veteran midfielder Frank Lampard will start in tonight's Champions League encounter with FC Basel. Oscar is also expected to make the starting line-up, and is one of four players of 22 or under who Mourinho has said will start for his side tonight. Basel will be without Ivory Coast international Serey Die, who has been sidelined by a calf complaint. Midfielder Mohamed Elneny is also missing with a shoulder injury, meaning manager Murat Yakin is likely to go with two up front, with Marco Streller set to be paired with the in-from Mohamed Salah. (Sky Sports)
Key Stats
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 29 games at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League group stages (22 wins, 7 draws). Basel have won only three of their 16 Champions League games away from home (5 draws, 8 defeats). Mourinho is one of four managers to have won the European Cup/Champions League with two different clubs, alongside Ernst Happel, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Jupp Heynckes.
Likely Line-Ups
Chelsea Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Bertrand, Mikel, Lampard, Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard, Torres FC Basel Sommer, P Degen, Schar, Ivanov, Voser, Xhaka, Frei, Sio, Delgado, Salah, Streller Now click "Next" for our Match Preview
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
