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Champions League Preview: Chelsea - Apoel Nicosia
Chelsea can afford to lose, but how much will they want to win?
| Bet: | Returns: | Napoli £25.50 | Draw £31.50 | Chelsea £25.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Napoli £25.00 | Draw £32.00 | Chelsea £26.20 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Napoli £25.00 | Draw £32.50 | Chelsea £27.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Napoli £25.00 | Draw £32.00 | Chelsea £28.80 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Napoli £24.50 | Draw £32.00 | Chelsea £26.50 |
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7 Dec 2009 18:34:10
By Ollie Irish
Chelsea have already won Group D and so will gain little from playing a full-strength team on Wednesday evening. But given the strength of Carlo Ancelotti's squad, a home tie against Apoel holds no fear, whatever starting XI the Italian manager selects.
For the Cypriot visitors, there is significantly more to play for, in the form of a third-place finish that would ensure entry into the Europa League. To do that they need to beat Chelsea and hope Porto can get a result at Atletico Madrid. It's an unlikely scenario but although Apoel currently lie bottom of the group, they have been no pushovers, matching Chelsea for long periods in Cyprus in September (Chelsea won 1-0, thanks to a clinical finish by Nicolas Anelka), and a respectable five goals in five matches.
FORM GUIDE
Chelsea
Dec 5: Man City 2-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
Dec 2: Blackburn 3-3 Chelsea (League Cup)*
Nov 29: Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea (Premier League)
Nov 25: Porto 0-1 Chelsea (Champions League)
Nov 21: Chelsea 4-0 Wolves (Premier League)
* Blackburn won 4-3 on penalties
Apoel
Dec 4: Apoel 1-1 Apollon (Cypriot First Division)
Nov 30: AEL 1-2 Apoel (Cypriot First Division)
Nov 25: Apoel 1-1 Atletico Madrid (Champions League)
Nov 21: Apoel 2-0 Anorthosis (Cypriot First Division)
Nov 15: Nea Salamis 0-3 Apoel (Cypriot First Division)
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea
Captain John Terry has a knee injury and will probably not be risked for this dead rubber. Left-back Ashley Cole (ankle) and Michael Ballack (knee) are also doubtful starters.
Centre-back Alex, plus strikers Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge are also out of contention. Youngsters Daniel Philliskirk and Gael Kakuta have therefore been added to the squad for Tuesday's match.
Last starting XI in Champions League (v Porto): Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Mikel, Ballack, Malouda, Zhirkov, Deco, Drogba, Anelka.
Apoel
Midfielder Nectarios Alexandrou and defender Christos Kontis (both calf) face late fitness tests.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chelsea - Gael Kakuta
One hopes that Carlo Ancelotti decides to use this occasion to blood some young players. Kakuta is in the squad for this match and based on the young Frenchman's exciting cameo against Wolves – if not his penalty shootout failure at Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup last week – it would be great to see him make his European debut for Chelsea in a match where he is free to express himself.
Apoel - Nenad Mirosavljevic
The Serbian striker looked very dangerous up front in Apoel's last European tie, at home against Atletico Madrid, scoring his side's only goal. Now 32, he's been around the block a few times and knows a few old tricks that might test Chelsea's defenders.
PREDICTION
Chelsea won't feel any urgent need to engage top gear at the Bridge, but whatever team they put out should be good enough to get the better of Apoel, even though the visitors have much to play for.
Chelsea 1-0 Apoel
Tuesday, December 8, Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Stamford Bridge, West London
Stamford Bridge, West London
Chelsea have already won Group D and so will gain little from playing a full-strength team on Wednesday evening. But given the strength of Carlo Ancelotti's squad, a home tie against Apoel holds no fear, whatever starting XI the Italian manager selects.
For the Cypriot visitors, there is significantly more to play for, in the form of a third-place finish that would ensure entry into the Europa League. To do that they need to beat Chelsea and hope Porto can get a result at Atletico Madrid. It's an unlikely scenario but although Apoel currently lie bottom of the group, they have been no pushovers, matching Chelsea for long periods in Cyprus in September (Chelsea won 1-0, thanks to a clinical finish by Nicolas Anelka), and a respectable five goals in five matches.
FORM GUIDE
Chelsea
Dec 5: Man City 2-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
Dec 2: Blackburn 3-3 Chelsea (League Cup)*
Nov 29: Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea (Premier League)
Nov 25: Porto 0-1 Chelsea (Champions League)
Nov 21: Chelsea 4-0 Wolves (Premier League)
* Blackburn won 4-3 on penalties
Apoel
Dec 4: Apoel 1-1 Apollon (Cypriot First Division)
Nov 30: AEL 1-2 Apoel (Cypriot First Division)
Nov 25: Apoel 1-1 Atletico Madrid (Champions League)
Nov 21: Apoel 2-0 Anorthosis (Cypriot First Division)
Nov 15: Nea Salamis 0-3 Apoel (Cypriot First Division)
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea
Captain John Terry has a knee injury and will probably not be risked for this dead rubber. Left-back Ashley Cole (ankle) and Michael Ballack (knee) are also doubtful starters.
Centre-back Alex, plus strikers Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge are also out of contention. Youngsters Daniel Philliskirk and Gael Kakuta have therefore been added to the squad for Tuesday's match.
Last starting XI in Champions League (v Porto): Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Mikel, Ballack, Malouda, Zhirkov, Deco, Drogba, Anelka.
Apoel
Midfielder Nectarios Alexandrou and defender Christos Kontis (both calf) face late fitness tests.
Coincidentally, defenders Boban Grncarov and Altin Haxhi also have calf injuries.
Last starting XI in Champions League (v Atletico Madrid): Chiotis, Poursaitidis, Elia, Jorge, Kontis, Morais, Pinto, Alexandrou, Kosowski, Michael, Mirosavljevic.PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chelsea - Gael Kakuta
One hopes that Carlo Ancelotti decides to use this occasion to blood some young players. Kakuta is in the squad for this match and based on the young Frenchman's exciting cameo against Wolves – if not his penalty shootout failure at Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup last week – it would be great to see him make his European debut for Chelsea in a match where he is free to express himself.
Apoel - Nenad Mirosavljevic
The Serbian striker looked very dangerous up front in Apoel's last European tie, at home against Atletico Madrid, scoring his side's only goal. Now 32, he's been around the block a few times and knows a few old tricks that might test Chelsea's defenders.
PREDICTION
Chelsea won't feel any urgent need to engage top gear at the Bridge, but whatever team they put out should be good enough to get the better of Apoel, even though the visitors have much to play for.
Chelsea 1-0 Apoel
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