All to play for as Chelsea and Atletico Madrid try to reach the Champions League final
Chelsea and Atletico Madrid meet at Stamford Bridge for the right to face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final.
Real booked their place in the Lisbon showpiece on Tuesday as they inflicted a humbling defeat on reigning champions Bayern Munich.
Carlo Ancelotti and his troops will be interested spectators 24 hours on as they wait to discover who they will meet in the battle to be crowned continental kings.
There is still all to play for in Chelsea's semi-final clash with Atletico, with a goalless first leg in Spain leaving the tie intriguingly poised.
Jose Mourinho faced criticism for his lack of adventure in Vicente Calderon, but a game plan which was designed to ensure that the Blues remained in the contest ahead of a return date in west London was executed perfectly.
Goals will now be required on home soil and Chelsea have received positive news on the injury front ahead of a crucial clash, with influential figures such as John Terry, Samuel Eto'o and Eden Hazard ready to step back into the fold.
Mourinho has made no secret of the fact that sealing a third Champions League success in his glittering managerial career has become his top priority, but he and his players will have taken considerable heart from Sunday's 2-0 victory over Liverpool which fired them back into the Premier League title race.
Jose - Terry and Hazard are ready
Atletico are also in formidable form at present, though, and continue to hold a four-point lead at the top of the La Liga standings.
They are unbeaten in their last 14 games in all competitions, with 11 victories secured during a run which has seen them dominate at home and dash the European dreams of heavyweight foes such as AC Milan and Barcelona.
It is 40 years since Atletico last graced a European Cup final, and they have never taken the crown, while Chelsea are looking to complete a memorable hat-trick having tasted Champions League and Europa League glory in each of the past two seasons.
Both sides also have the added incentive of wanting to face Real in the final, with Mourinho a former boss at Santiago Bernabeu and Atletico determined to prove to their cross-city rivals that they are THE force to be reckoned with in the Spanish capital. Chelsea
Chelsea captain John Terry, midfielder Eden Hazard and striker Samuel Eto'o are all in contention for starting berths after shaking off ankle, calf and knee complaints respectively.
Mark Schwarzer is expected to start in goal, as, despite Petr Cech (shoulder) appearing for training with the squad on Tuesday, the Czech goalkeeper will not feature.
Branislav Ivanovic is likely to play right-back with Cesar Azpilicueta switching to the left to push Ashley Cole out of the starting XI, while Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel (both suspended) and Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah (both ineligible) are out. A Madrid
For Atletico, midfielder Gabi will miss the second leg through suspension after picking up a yellow card in the first leg.
Defender Javi Manquillo has been included in Diego Simeone's travelling squad, but he is not expected to play any part in proceedings as he continues to nurse a neck injury.
The visitors have no other selection worries, with striker Diego Costa continuing his return from injury by featuring in the 1-0 victory over Valencia at the weekend. Opta stats
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 16 clashes with Spanish sides in the Champions League (W6 D10), with their last defeat coming against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in February 2006. Atletico have travelled to England nine times previously in European competition (excluding qualifiers); winning only once (at Leicester City in September 1997, D4 L4). Chelsea have never lost a semi-final leg in any European competition at home (W8 D4; in any of Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners Cup and Fairs Cup). Previous game's starting line-ups
8 Garcia 9 Villa
Post By http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/310945/preview
0 comments Blogger 0 Facebook
Post a Comment