MX23RW : Sunday, January 5 01:20:18| >> :60:515:515:
[monks data]
Maribor
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 5, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

1-1

Ibraimi (50')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Matic (73')

Preview: Maribor vs. Chelsea

Sports Mole looks ahead to Chelsea's Champions League trip to Slovenian side Maribor.

Chelsea can secure their participation in the knockout stages of the Champions League by recording a victory from their trip to Maribor on Wednesday night.

The 6-0 win over their hosts on matchday three at Stamford Bridge has left Jose Mourinho's men top of Group G on seven points.

Consequently, if they collect another three points against Maribor and Sporting Lisbon fail to beat Schalke 04, the West Londoners will be in the last 16 with two games to spare.

In terms of team selection, Mourinho may opt to leave out Diego Costa, who has an ongoing hamstring complaint. With Loic Remy sidelined through injury, Didier Drogba is expected to lead the attack.

Elsewhere, veteran captain John Terry may also be rested, which could present a starting opportunity to Kurt Zouma alongside Gary Cahill.

As for Maribor, centre-back Aleksandar Rajcevic will play no part because of a head injury, while it is anticipated that Ales Mejac will undergo a late fitness test.

Chelsea have never played in Slovenia, but three English clubs have previously made the trip to Maribor. Wigan Athletic were beaten last year, while Tottenham Hotspur were held to a draw a year earlier. In 2011, Birmingham City won 2-1 in the Europa League group stages.

Recent form

Maribor: WLWWWL

Chelsea: WWWDWW

Possible starting lineups

Maribor: Handanovic; Suler, Viler, Stojanovic, Filipovic; Viler, Mejac, Mertelj, Bohar; Ibraimi, Tavares

Chelsea: Courtois; Luis, Zouma, Cahill, Ivanovic; Matic, Fabregas; Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard; Drogba

Sports Mole says: 0-2


ID:186268: cacheID:186268:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4147:
Written by
Liam Apicella
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Rio Ferdinand of QPR and Nikica Jelevic of Hull City during the Barclays Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Hull City at Loftus Road on August 16, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Chelsea vs. QPR
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool660018
2Barcelona650115
3B. Leverkusen641113
4Inter Milan641113
5Brest641113
6Arsenal641113
7Aston Villa641113
8Lille641113
9Bayern640212
10Dortmund640212
11Atletico640212
12AC Milan640212
13Atalanta632111
14Juventus632111
15Benfica631210
16Feyenoord631210
17Brugge631210
18Monaco631210
19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Real Madrid63039
21Celtic62319
22Man City62228
23PSV62228
24Dinamo Zagreb62228
25PSG62137
26Stuttgart62137
27Shakhtar61144
28Sparta Prague61144
29Sturm Graz61053
30Girona61053
31Red Star61053
32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava60060
36Young Boys60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!