Premier League Matchday 35 sees Chelsea take on Premier League strugglers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, in a match both sides come into in starkly contrasting situations and with starkly contrasting outlooks as the season winds to a close. Chelsea remain in the title hunt, despite the ultimate success of such campaign looking unlikely, and will be going out hard for a decisive victory against an abject and nearly-finished Black Cats side to keep the pressure up on Manchester City and Liverpool, as well as build up as much confidence and momentum as possible going into their crucial first leg semifinal tie against La Liga-leaders Atletico Madrid in Spain 3 days later. Sunderland, on the other hand, find themselves at directly the other end of the spectrum. Currently rock-bottom of the Premier League and 7 points from 17th-placed Norwich City — albeit with 2 games in hand — the Northeasterners' chances of retaining their Premier League status are looking dim. With 7 losses in their last 8 and 5 straight defeats leading up to this weekend's clash, Gus Poyet's men must surely be fearing the worst as they travel to top flight's most supreme home side.










The corresponding fixture last season ended 2-1 to the home side in what could have been, and in many ways was, a tricky affair for the hosts. The visiting Black Cats had just dismissed faltering boss Martin O'Neil after a steady descent downwards under the Irishman's tenure, and had installed only a few days previous the fiery Paolo Di Canio as his successor. The Stamford Bridge face-off was to be the Italian's first ever game as manager of the Wearside club, and the threat of the often threorised, sometimes dismissed, but regardless largely feared 'new manager bump' lingered in the air. Concerns were justified when on the stroke of halftime the visitors took the lead, albeit fortuitously, through a freak own goal from Blues fullback Cesar Azpilicueta. The tide was reversed just 2 minutes into the second half, however, with a second own goal in nearly as many match minutes, when Matthew Kilgallon clumsily touched an aimless ball ricocheted off goalkeeper Simon Mignolet into the bottom corner of his own net, drawing the Blues level. The turnaround was completed not 10 minutes after that, when Branislav Ivanovic finished off a bouncing miscued low effort from David Luiz from outside the box, and José Mourinho's men were in front for the first time all afternoon. The scoreline held out, and Rafa Benitez's men had sealed a vital 3 points, and condemned Di Canio's debut match to defeat.










The reverse fixture in December ended a 7-goal thriller that saw the home side take the lead early on but hold onto it for just minutes, before Chelsea took control and, despite being drawn to 2-2 at one stage, win out in the end, courtesy of goals from Frank Lampard, a brace from Eden Hazard, and an ultimately victory-deciding own goal from Phil Bardsley.










The sides were at either end of 1-0 scorelines the week before in their respective matchday fixtures. Chelsea obtained their first win at the Liberty Stadium in 4 visits since its occupants' promotion in 2011 as they defeated faltering Swansea City 1-0 via a second goal in as many games from marginalised striker Demba Ba, while Sunderland fell a goal to nil to in-form Top 4-chasing Everton through an own goal from Wes Brown to leave the Black Cats' chances of Premier League survival hanging by as thread.










Our for the visitors look to be striking duo Jozy Altidore and Steven Fletcher, while Chelsea assistant manager Steve Holland said in the stead of José Mourinho following the Blues' 1-0 win over Swansea Sunday that midfielder Eden Hazard will likely recover and be fit for selection again "sooner rather than later", though of course it is still uncertain to all whether that 'sooner' will be in time for the weekend's affair.

easy easy easy easy easy easy match

lets give islam feruz a shot at this

Awesome preview Shed

This could be a trickier fixture than we think. I hope Mou rests some players before the Atleti clash

Soul wrote:This could be a trickier fixture than we think.

no son really this is if anything easier than it looks

tougher than arsenal fixtures of course

lol I hate playing teams like these. They play like they've got nothing to lose and we play the first half as complacent as we can get until Mourinho blasts them during half time.

I don't think I can handle Chelsea when I'm old and grey

^dont worry sunderland are pathetic

k

Have to agree with Souly here. We'll make them look like Barcelona and nick a 1-0.

^nooo were at home that aint gonna happen now

be optimistic

We've gotta win this. Play a reasonably strong lineup, rest Eto'o, Hazard ( I know he is injured) and maybe Azpilicueta.

Yea, might be a good idea to give Cole a full run-out considering he'll be playing a full 90 3 days later, for the first time since what, Fall?

No way Oscar can play two games so close imo (this and the atleti game), we really need another #10, which is quite ironic when you look at where we were at the start of the season

hopefuly Mou plays Ramires against Sunderland so he wont be there to cock it up v Atleti

Oscar got a bit of a rest this week, with a full week to prepare for the next game and his youthful body, he'll be fine.

But yes, playing Cole is the right idea with no Ivanovic against Atleti.

fatman123 wrote:hopefuly Mou plays Ramires against Sunderland so he wont be there to cock it up v Atleti

Mou luv Ramires long time.


He'll be the first name on the teamsheet for both games, sadly.

inb4ramiresonthewingvatleti

Good lord, no.

Inb4 Ramires chips Courtois to send us through to the final.

Still think we'll steamroll them, Fuerte lad?

We won't but we'll get a win, for sure.

Shed wrote:Still think we'll steamroll them, Fuerte lad?

yes pessimistic shed

So if they lose they're basically in the Championship plus they just got that confidence boost from drawing at the Etihad. Definitely not going to be easy but luckily this match is at the SB otherwise I would've been really worried about it

PLS START SALAH

Thanks