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Chelsea Vs Sporting Lisbon : UCL (3 - 1) On 10th December 2014 / Sporting Lisbon Vs Chelsea: UCL (0 - 1) On 30th September 2014 / Europa League: Manchester City Vs Sporting Lisbon (3 - 2) On March 15th 2012 (2) (3) (4)
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Pre-match Briefing: Chelsea V Sporting Lisbon by e2uk(m): 9:05am On Dec 10, 2014 |
Stamford Bridge tonight hosts our final European match of 2014. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton gather together the group stage finale facts and figures... TALKING POINTS Already confirmed as Group G winners, Chelsea will look to respond strongly to Saturday’s result at Newcastle, but most likely with a significantly changed starting 11. Nine players began each of the last three Barclays Premier League games over eight days. Definitely rested this evening, Jose Mourinho has said, are John Terry, Willian and Eden Hazard. Dynamic teenage midfielder Ruben Loftus- Cheek is set to make his debut at some point in the game. Sporting have won their last four games in all competitions and are unbeaten in six matches, but they have never beaten a Premier League side on English soil in this competition. ‘I would like Sporting to qualify,’ the Chelsea boss said of his compatriots, but ‘with seven points’ (their current total). Marco Silva’s side have also won just one of their last 17 European away games, losing 10 and drawing the other six. Never the less a point tonight would book their passage to the knockout rounds. Key Stat Chelsea are on a run of seven successive wins against Portuguese opponents, including the 2013 Europa League final against Benfica. The Blues’ first defeat of the season in any competition at St James’ Park came in the 15th league game on 6 December, making this the latest we have gone into a season unbeaten. The 90-year record of 14 games undefeated from the start of a season, set in the old Second Division between 29 August 1925 and 21 November 1925 by Bob Turnbull, Jack Harrow, Ben Baker and company, though matched, remains unconquered. Our weekend league opponents, Hull City, have a free week ahead of their trip south. And tonight’s visitors, Sporting, were again granted extra time by their domestic league to prepare for this match, playing and beating Boavista 3-1 away on Friday evening. Andre Carrillo and Carlos Mane hit two goals in three minutes early in the second half and Joao Mario came off the bench to add a third late on, that and the second goal made by substitute Carrillo. Young Argentina left-back Jonathan Silva headed the visitors an 87th-minute consolation. The result lifted Sporting to fourth in the Primeira Liga, eight points behind leaders Benfica. Elsewhere tonight Schalke, travel to Maribor knowing that anything less than victory will hand Sporting the second Champions League knockout ticket from Group G, whatever the result at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea, of course, are already guaranteed seeding in the Round of 16 draw for the ninth time in the last 12 campaigns. Of the other three English sides, Liverpool will now ply their trade on Thursdays in the Europa League, Arsenal finished as runners-up behind Dortmund, and Manchester City are in Italy this evening for a showdown with Ashley Cole’s Roma. In order to extend their Champions League campaign into the New Year, City must win and hope that CSKA Moscow do not, or secure a score draw and hope the Russians lose. Should Pelligrini’s men lose, they are out of European competition altogether. Roma qualify with a victory. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP G Pld W D L F A Pts 1 Chelsea 5 3 2 0 14 2 11 2 Sporting Lisbon 5 2 1 2 11 9 7 3 Schalke 5 1 2 2 8 14 5 4 Maribor 5 0 3 2 4 12 3 Other Group G fixture Tonight 7.45pm Maribor v Schalke The draw for the round of 16 will be made on Monday 15 December at 11am UK time. The ties are played over four midweeks in February and March, with group winners being drawn away in the first leg. In this round Chelsea cannot be drawn against teams from England or from our qualifying group. From the quarter-finals onwards it becomes a free draw. WE HAVE HISTORY Tonight is the first competitive meeting between Chelsea and Sporting Lisbon at Stamford Bridge. Our only previous competitive meeting with them was the second game of Group G this season. Jose Mourinho was facing his old club and skipper John Terry became only the sixth English player to make 100 appearances in the Champions League after Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, David Beckham and fellow Blues Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard. Having been pegged back by Schalke in the opening match night the Londoners began purposefully and powerfully, and might have opened the scoring in the early exchanges. Diego Costa was sent clear but Rui Patricio, who excelled in goal for the hosts, successfully shut him out. Andre Schurrle also had chances to break the deadlock as the Lions struggled against Chelsea’s energy and fluency. With fewer than 10 minutes to go before half-time, Cesc Fabregas directed a free-kick from the left to the far post and Nemanja Matic , formerly of Sporting’s arch-rivals Benfica, steered a looping header into the net. Oscar was put in to possibly make it 2-0 but again Patricio was equal to his effort. Nani, on loan to his old club from Manchester United, was Sporting’s brightest spark after the break, hitting the side-netting with one strike. The game opened up in the last 15 minutes, with Filipe Luis and Mohamed Salah both having good opportunities and Fredy Montero heading past the post. The 1-0 win was a landmark one – no one had beaten Sporting at the Jose Alvalade stadium in European competition for 16 matches. Chelsea’s biggest home win in the Champions League 21/10/2014 Chelsea 6-0 Maribor Group stage Sporting’s biggest away win in the Champions League 02/10/07 Dynamo Kiev 1-2 Sporting group stage TACTICAL BRIEF Jose Mourinho will be delighted that his team did the business with the 5-0 win at Schalke two weeks ago, freeing up his selection options tonight. He will not want to lose, nor does he need to win at all cost. Nine players started the last three quick-fire Premier League matches and two more began two of those. Petr Cech may resume in goal should Thibaut Courtois be rested ahead of Hull on Saturday; he played both matches against Maribor. Since Kurt Zouma has also performed well in two full Champions League games, as well as the second half of the Tottenham league game, the dynamic centre-back may feature this evening, with left-back Filipe Luis , a sub at Newcastle, another possibility. The immensely influential centrist Nemanja Matic – who plied his trade in Lisbon for a few years at Benfica – is available again after his weekend suspension, while his partner Cesc Fabregas could play as he is banned from Saturday’s action. Eighteen-year-old Ruben Loftus-Cheek (pictured below), skipper of the 2013/14 FA Youth Cup-winners, is set to make his first-team debut at some stage tonight. Other attacking midfield options include another former Eagles man, Ramires, on the bench at St James’ Park, and Andre Schurrle. Mourinho has reported Diego Costa will start. He was suspended for last week’s 3-0 victory against Spurs. Fit- again fellow striker Loic Remy will also be keen to add to his three goals in all competitions. Marco Silva knows a point is enough for his side but will he trust his side to play for that result or go for the three points? His substitutions set up Sporting’s 3-1 win at Boavista but the key one was forced on the coach when Nani pulled up after half an hour and Andre Carrillo came on. The on-loan Man United winger’s thigh injury prevents his participation tonight. He was their best player in our meeting in Lisbon back in September and has played all five previous games in the competition, top scoring with four goals and managing the most on-target shots for the Portuguese. Silva set his side up in a 4-4-2 formation against Boavista’s 4-2-3-1, with target man Islam Slimani and no.10 Fredy Montero his latest dual strikeforce, Nani and Carlos Mane wide and William Carvalho and Adrien Silva in central midfield. The highly-rated Carvalho plays a deeper role with Silva freer to rove. Carrillo’s opener was his first goal for two months, while striker Mane’s was his second of the league season. Slimani, who failed to have an impact against Boavista, has managed six goals in eight Primeira Liga starts this season. It is possible Sporting will revert to the 4-2-3-1 they used during our 1-0 win at Estadio Jose Alvalade. The Portuguese will be without suspended right-back Cedric, so 21-year-old Ricardo Esgaio may step in for his debut in this competition. CHELSEA IN NUMBERS Tonight we complete our 12th successive Champions League group stage. Only Real Madrid (18) and Arsenal (17) have a better such run at this stage of the competition. In all we have topped our group in 10 of our 13 Champions League campaigns. Nemanja Matic has made more tackles (33) than any other player in the Champions League this season. The last four penalties Petr Cech faced in the Champions League (including shoot-outs) have not been scored (three saved, one hit post). The Blues have won our last seven games against Portuguese clubs. In all we have won eight of 10 games with one draw and one defeat. Chelsea’s home record against Portuguese teams 2004/05 Porto W 3-1 Champions League group stage 2006/07 Porto W 2-1 Champions League round of 16 second leg (agg 3-2) 2009/10 Porto W 1-0 Champions League group stage 2011/12 Benfica W 2-1 Champions League quarter-final first leg (agg 3-1) Chelsea’s last ten years in Europe 2004/05 Champions League – semi-final 2005/06 Champions League – round of 16 2006/07 Champions League – semi-final 2007/08 Champions League – runners-up 2008/09 Champions League – semi-final 2009/10 Champions League – round of 16 2010/11 Champions League – quarter-final 2011/12 Champions League – winners 2012/13 Europa League – winners, having transferred from the Champions League group stage 2013/14 Champions League – semi-final LAST SIX RESULTS Champions League group G Sep 17 Schalke (h) D 1-1 Sep 30 Sporting Lisbon (a) W 1-0 Oct 21 Maribor (h) W 6-0 Nov 05 Maribor (a) D 1-1 Nov 25 Schalke (a) W 5-0 Champions League scorers (14) Drogba 2 (1 pen), Hazard 2 (1 pen), Matic 2, Terry 2, Fabregas 1, Ramires 1, Remy 1, Willian 1, own goals 2 Champions League assists (19) Assists are judged not for the last touch but by the subjective view of the club statistician for a crucial part played in the goal. Fabregas 7, Hazard 5, Terry 2, Ake 1, Drogba 1, Filipe Luis 1, Ivanovic 1, Willian 1 Champions League shots on target (42) Hazard 11, Drogba 6, Diego Costa 5, Remy 3, Schurrle 3, Terry 3, Matic 2, Oscar 2, Ramires 2, Fabregas 1, Ivanovic 1, Salah 1, Willian 1, Zouma 1 Champions League games since A home win: 0 A home draw: 1 A home defeat: 2 CHELSEA’S NEXT THREE GAMES MILESTONES If selected, Filipe Luis will make his 50th career appearance in UEFA competitions. SPORTING IN NUMBERS Founded 1906 Major honours 18 Portuguese league titles, last in 2002 15 Portuguese Cups, last in 2008 7 Portuguese Super Cups, last in 2008 1 European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1964 Last season Portuguese Liga - second Portuguese Cup - fourth round Portuguese League Cup - group stage This is Sporting’s sixth Champions League group stage campaign and the first since 2008/09 when they reached the last 16 for the first time. Sporting’s defeat to Chelsea on matchday 2 ended their 16-match unbeaten home run in Europe. They lost on their last visit to England, to Man City in the 2011/12 Europa League round of 16 but still progressed to the quarter-finals. Sporting’s four previous away games against Premier League opposition have resulted in three defeats and a draw. In all Sporting have won nine of their 20 matches against English sides, drawing three and losing eight. They are unbeaten in six games in all competitions, winning five, since their only league defeat to Vitoria Guimaraes on 1 November. Last ten league seasons 2004/05 3rd 2005/06 2nd 2006/07 2nd 2007/08 2nd 2008/09 2nd 2009/10 4th 2010/11 3rd 2011/12 4th 2012/13 7th 2013/14 2nd Sporting’s away games against English teams in Europe 1963/64 Man Utd L 1-4 Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final 2nd leg (agg 6-4) 1973/74 Sunderland L 1-2 Cup Winners’ Cup second round 2nd leg (agg 3-2) 1981/82 Southampton W 4-2 UEFA Cup second round second leg (agg 4-2) 2004/05 Newcastle D 1-1 UEFA Cup group stage 2004/05 Middlesbrough W 1-0 UEFA Cup fourth round second leg (agg 4-2) 2004/05 Newcastle W L 0-1 UEFA Cup quarter-final second leg (agg 4-2) 2007/08 Man Utd L 1-2 Champions League group stage 2007/08 Bolton D 1-1 UEFA Cup fourth round second leg (agg 2-1) 2009/10 Everton L 1-2 Europa League round of 32 second leg (4-2) 2011/12 Man City L 2-3 Europa League fourth round first leg (3-3, won on away goals) Ten-year European record 2004/05 UEFA Cup runners-up 2005/06 UEFA Cup first round having transferred from the Champions League third qualified round 2006/07 Champions League group stage 2007/08 UEFA Cup quarter-finals having transferred from the Champions League group stage 2008/09 Champions League round 16 2009/10 Europa League round of 16 having transferred from the Champions League play-offs 2010/11 Europa League round of 32 2011/12 Europa League semi-finals 2012/13 Europa League group stage 2013/14 Did not qualify Champions League group G Sep 17 Maribor (a) D 1-1 Sep 30 Chelsea (h) L 0-1 Oct 21 Schalke (a) L 3-4 Nov 05 Schalke (h) W 4-2 Nov 25 Maribor (h) W 3-1 2014/15 Champions League scorers (11) Nani 4, Adrien Silva 2 (1 pen), Slimani 2, Jefferson 1, Mane 1, Sarr 1 Last six domestic results Oct 26 Maritime (h) W 4-2 Nov 01 Vitoria Guimarães (a) L 0-3 Nov 09 Pacos de Ferreira (h) D 1-1 Nov 21 Espinho (a) Cup W 5-0 Nov 29 Vitoria Setubal (h) W 3-0 Dec 05 Boavista (a) W 3-1 Portuguese Liga top seven Pld GD Pts 1 Benfica 12 21 31 2 Porto 12 22 28 3 Vitoria Guimaraes 12 13 27 4 Sporting Lisbon 12 13 23 5 Sporting Braga 12 13 22 6 Belenenses 12 1 21 7 Pacos de Ferreira 12 3 19 THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE Referee Svein Oddvar Moen, his two assistant referees and two additional assistant referees are all from Norway. This is his fourth Chelsea game, the previous ones being draws with Copenhagen and Genk in 2011 and last year’s 3-0 home win over Schalke. OTHERWISE ENGAGED Sporting’s right-back Cedric is suspended. Champions League bookings list Players receive a one-match suspension for collecting three and five yellow cards Chelsea (7): Filipe Luis 2, Fabregas 1, Hazard 1, Ivanovic 1, Terry 1, Willian 1 Sporting (11): Cedric 3, Mauricio 2, Joao Mario 2, William Carvalho 2, Nani 1, Sarr 1 |
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UEFA Champions League Draw For Round Of 16. / Chelsea (2) Vs West Bromwich Albion (0) Friday 26th December / Uefa Champions League - Qtr Finals Fixtures
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