UEFA Champions League Group F Preview - Chelsea FC vs. Spartak Moscow
Stamford Bridge will be the venue where Group F leaders Chelsea FC take on Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Champions League.
The English Champions have scored maximum points from the 3 matches that they have played in the European competition and will be looking to confirm their place into the knockout rounds with a home win. Meanwhile Spartak will be
trying to make life tough for the home side and will be looking to gain something out of the game.
With a 2-0 win, Chelsea exorcised their demons at the Luzhniki Stadium where they had lost to Manchester United in the Champions League final back in May, 2008. Yuri Zhirkov’s perfectly timed volley and a neat finish from Nicolas
Anelka was enough for the West Londoners to reach victory, a fortnight ago.
However, Spartak Moscow’s boss Valery Karpin has urged his team to play without fear at the Bridge tonight.
The Russian manager said, “We were too scared of our opponents, we had given them too much respect, but if we play them like we did in the second half in Luzhniki and like we played Zenit in the second half, then we have a chance.”
Carlo Ancelotti welcomes back his ace striker Didier Drogba from European suspension to lead the Blues’ attack. The Ivorian was handed a 3 match ban by UEFA, after he earned a red card in last season’s knockout tie against FC Internazionale.
The Italian manager has conveyed Drogba’s desire to play and succeed in the Champions League and expressed that Chelsea’s chances increase when the African plays.
Chelsea will miss their in-form winger Florent Malouda, who is expected to be rested after picking up a knock at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. Long term absentee Frank Lampard will also sit out Wednesday night’s
match; however, the England international is expected to be fit for the weekend game against Liverpool.
Addressing about the fitness problems of his players, Ancelotti said, “Lampard and Benayoun will be out, and Bosingwa has not felt well and did not train, so he's not available. We have a lot of games coming up and I don't want
to take a risk. We have important games against Liverpool and Fulham and we want to play them with the players in good condition.”
Man to Watch: Yuri Zhirkov
The Russian side will be looking to keep a close eye on Yuri Zhirkov, who opened his scoring account for Chelsea with a sweet left-footed strike that left Spartak’s goalkeeper catching thin air. Zhirkov also played an instrumental
part in the Blues victory over Blackburn Rovers at the weekend as he created the assist for Branislav Ivanovic’s winning header. With Malouda out of the side, the Russian will start the match and will be acting as an attacking midfielder from the left flank.
Chelsea FC’s probable starting 11: Petr Cech, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Alex da Costa, Branislav Ivanovic, Mikel John Obi, Michael Essien, Yuri Zhirkov, Daniel Sturridge, Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba.
Spartak Moscow’s Probable starting 11: Andriy Dykan, Aleksandr Sheshukov, Ibson Barreto da Silva, Ari, Welliton Soares de Morais, Sergei Parshivlyuk, Evgeni Makeev, Marek Suchy, Nicolas Pareja, Aiden McGeady,
Dmitri Kombarov.
Match Prediction:
The Blues have not lost a home match in the Champions League since 2003 and they will be too strong for their opponents on the night. With Drogba spearheading their attack, Chelsea are expected to sail to a 3-0 win on the night.
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