Date: Wednesday, December 11 Venue: Stamford Bridge Kick-Off: 19:45 Can Chelsea guarantee top spot in Group E by beating Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League on Wednesday night?
Team News
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will hand a recall to left-back Ashley Cole as his side take on Steaua Bucharest in the final game of Group E tonight. The defender has not played since November 2, after suffering a rib injury and subsequently losing his place to Cesar Azpilicueta. David Luiz and Brazilian teammate Oscar have recovered from injury and could start, but Marco van Ginkel remains sidelined. Steaua will be without Alexandru Bourceanu through suspension as well as long-term absentee Lucian Filip (broken leg). Mihai Pintilii made his return from a muscle strain last week and could make his first appearance in the Champions League since matchday four of the competition. (eurosport)
Key Stats
Chelsea beat Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in the corresponding fixture in Romania, but lost their last Champions League outing 1-0 against Basel. Bucharest will almost certainly finish bottom of Group E, while Chelsea will top the group with a win. Schalke will top the group if they beat Basel in the evening's other fixture and Chelsea lose to Bucharest, while Basel can also win the group under the same circumstances. Chelsea have conceded seven goals in their last three matches and have only kept a clean sheet once in their last five.
Going by some of Jose Mourinho's recent comments, you'd be forgiven for thinking Chelsea are at risk of being dumped out of this season's Champions League and into the Europa League for a second season running. The 'Special One' says his side are "in trouble" following their 3-2 reverse in the Premier League to Stoke City and has even written off his team's chances of winning this competition, saying:
"My analysis of the situation is we are not favourites to win it. Bayern Munich are the favourites. They have unbelievable stability. Barcelona and Real Madrid too I will say, clearly in terms of potential, are clearly in front."
However, for all the negative vibes emanating from the former Porto coach, Chelsea's fate is in their own hands tonight - win this game, and they finish top of Group E, avoiding potentially hazardous opposition when the draw for the last 16 is made later this month. The Blues beat Bucharest 4-0 in their own backyard in this corresponding fixture in Romania, making light work of their opposition, and a repeat here could perhaps finally put a smile back on Mourinho's face. Prediction: 3-0
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.
