Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Monday, 1st April K/o: 12:30 GMT
Team News
Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata could return in time for this afternoon's FA Cup quarter-final replay against Manchester United having recovered from illness. The Spaniard sat out the weekend defeat to Southampton, as did defender Gary Cahill who remains a doubt with a knee injury. United right-back Rafael will miss this encounter after limping off in the first half against Sunderland on Saturday with a groin injury. Defender Rio Ferdinand, midfielder Ryan Giggs and forward Wayne Rooney are all pushing for recalls having also sat out that game. Jonny Evans picked up a knock in the 1-0 win over the Black Cats but has recovered.
Match Preview
Manchester United's defeat of Sunderland on Saturday
led to the dismissal of manager Martin O'Neill, and another win here for the Red Devils would surely leave one more Premier League manager on the brink - Rafael Benitez. The Spaniard will leave his post in the summer but he might not last even that long after Chelsea's top 4 hopes took a hit following a 2-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday. Sir Alex Ferguson
stoked the flames ahead of this blockbuster encounter by claiming the Blues owe their run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup to a number of "easy fixtures" but there's no questioning Chelsea earned this replay having recovered from 2-0 down at Old Trafford to go within the length of David de Gea's toe of victory. Juan Mata saw his effort brilliantly kept out in the dying embers of that encounter and the Spaniard is set to give Chelsea a boost by returning from illness today. Manchester City await the winners of this replay in the semi-finals at Wembley on Sunday, 14th April.
Likely Line-Ups
Chelsea Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Azpilicueta, Cole, Mata, Lampard, Oscar, Moses, Hazard, Torres
Man Utd De Gea, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Smalling, Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young, Rooney, van Persie Source:
BBC