Champions League - Schalke 04 vs Chelsea

Matchweek 5 of the Champions League group stage sees Chelsea travel to Germany to take on FC Schalke in what will be the sides' 4th Champions League clash in the space of a year.










Said corresponding fixture last season ended in a 3-0 rout to the visitors. Fernando Torres opened the scoring on 5 minutes to give the Blues a very early lead, and doubled both his and Chelsea's accounts on the night in the second half with just over 20 minutes of regular time remaining, before Eden Hazard finished the hosts off with a sublime breakaway solo goal 3 minutes from time.










The reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge on opening day back in September, however, was quite another matter. The Blues took control of the early proceedings, and carved out a few chances to grab an early lead. Eventually, they did, though rather fortuitously, when Cesc Fàbregas put them ahead on 11 minutes, but in a move containing blatantly a foul in its build-up. The visitors took control from then on, pinning Chelsea back in their own half, and creating a number of chances themselves. Come the second period, the German outfit's dominance resumed, and just after the hour mark, got them onto level terms through Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. The score held out, and the sides were made to share the spoils.










As a result, the pair head into Tuesday's clash first and second in the group, each knowing a win will put their fate in their own hands going into the final gameday in a fortnight's time, and in the Blues' case, would seal both qualification and top spot regardless the result in the group's other clash between Maribor and Sporting or indeed the results in the closing matchweek.
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This match also marks the first time the Blues will face off against former player and manager Roberto Di Matteo following the Italian's FA Cup and Champions League cup Double win with the side as boss in 2012, and subsequent sacking in the Fall of that year. The Blues legend will undoubtedly be eager to prove a point against the owner who so wantonly dismissed him after such an historic feat just months before, just as much as the Londoners themselves will be anxious to avoid such a scalp against so revered a figure among players and fans alike.
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An important game to win here. If we do, we'll secure top spot so I am expecting a strong team.

It won't be easy to come up against RDM though.

Busparker RDM to put 11 men behind the ball and nick a stuffy 1-nil victory.

Spoiler:

I hope not!

Would be disastrous for us if they did win though.


To not finish top of this group would be a travesty.

It would.
I'd take a draw though.

Di Matteo wants Chelsea point:
Schalke coach Roberto Di Matteo has targeted taking at least a point when the Royal Blues host his former club Chelsea in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash
http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid/247/794/0/index.html

"Wins always do the self-confidence a bit of good and we'll take a lot of positives from the game and see where we can improve. Chelsea also played and they are in the same position as us in terms of recovery. We have the Champions League game on Tuesday where everything is still open and anything can happen, but we want to take at least a point from the home game."

"For me personally, I'll just concentrate on my work of trying to win the game with Schalke."

Mourinho: Schalke tie not me versus Roberto Di Matteo:
José Mourinho insists Chelsea's Champions League trip to Schalke on Tuesday night will not become a battle between himself and former Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/411796/Chelsea-Jose-Mourinho-Schalke-Roberto-Di-Matteo

"I don't play against him. If I play against him, he wins because he plays better than me."

"Unless I am fitter, which I don't know, but normally he wins because he is much better than me."

"It is Chelsea against Schalke, it is not me against Di Matteo."

Drogba: Roberto Di Matteo did the business at Chelsea:
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba had paid tribute to former manager Roberto Di Matteo ahead of the sides' Champions League clash Tuesday evening in Germany, saying the Italian delivering to the club what it had so long sought will see him stand out over most of his peers in the Blues history books
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/411665/Didier-Drogba-Roberto-Di-Matteo-Chelsea

"We have had so many managers and all of them brought something special to Chelsea."

"All of them, I think, were part of our success."

"But the most remembered is Roberto for winning the Champions League."

Petr Cech set for Chelsea Champions League snub as José Mourinho goes full strength against Schalke:
The 32-year-old has featured in the Blues' last two games in the competition but Mourinho will opt for Thibaut Courtois at the Veltins-Arena
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/petr-cech-set-chelsea-champions-4685697

How do they know that?

They know everything, weren't you aware? Even some things the managers, players and club themselves don't.

Obviously.

CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa

SCHALKE XI:

Robbie greeting all the old staff at the benches

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!!!


JT gives us the lead a minute and a half in!!!!!

Should have been 2 there. Ivanovic

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL


Superb goal finished off by Willian

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL



Own goal puts us 3 up just before the break

Well..

HT: 0-3


We're running riot here. Schalke all over the place. Remind me of us under him from August-November '12.

Would have been some goal from Bran that

Drogba coming on to give Costinho a rest

"One Di Matteo" sing the travelling Chelsea fans in the away section