Lingering European Dreams

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Inter might have been dominating Serie A with ease and comfort but when it comes to performing in the Champions League, the Nerazzurri have been a huge disappointment. They might have won the Scudetto for the past four seasons in a row but for the last three years they have not gone beyond the Round of 16 in Europe's premier club competition.

Interestingly, in the last two years Inter have fallen to English opposition. In 2007-08 it was Rafael Benitez's Liverpool who knocked them out of Europe's most prestigious club competition while last year eventual finalists Manchester United defeated them 2-0 on aggregate in the pre-quarter finals. This time too the Beneamata have a Premier League side to contend with and it will be interesting to see how they cope, especially as Jose Mourinho will be on the bench against his former club.

Inter's form has taken a dip towards the south too in recent times. Their fiery, controversy-laden 0-0 draw with Sampdoria on Saturday night was their third draw in a row in the league and the second Serie A match in succession in which they have failed to score. Roma's and Milan's respective victories at the weekend mean that Inter's lead at the top of the table has now been trimmed to five points, which could be down to four if Milan win their game in hand against Fiorentina on Wednesday evening.

However, Jose Mourinho's side cannot be dismissed until the final whistle has been blown at Stamford Bridge in the second leg. Perhaps Chelsea will start the tie as slight favourites but Inter haven't lost at home yet this season - in fact, the last time Mourinho lost any domestic home game was way back in 2002 - and this time they have a more compact, well-knit team that is not over-reliant on any one particular player. Of course, except Wesley Sneijder, the former European champions do not have a single world class ball-playing midfielder but their two main strikers Samuel Eto'o and Diego Milito are exceptional and Inter should give themselves a good chance of destabilising a strong Chelsea defensive unit.

Basking In Hope And Expectations

Chelsea might be a 'nouveau riche' club with not much European pedigree but they have certainly been more prominent and successful in Europe than Inter since the turn of the century. The Premier League side have failed to make it to the semi-finals only once in the past six years and reached the final in 2008.

Last season the Blues were knocked out of the competition on the away goals rule. Guus Hiddink's side did a great job in restricting Barcelona from scoring in the first leg of their semi-final tie at Camp Nou and although they took the lead at Stamford Bridge in the ninth minute, Chelsea conceded an injury time equaliser to go out on the away goals rule.

Therefore, this time Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea will be more motivated and eager to perform in the Champions League. They have been doing great in the Premier League and went four points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table at the weekend with a 2-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers away from home. The Blues' defence has been superbly watertight this term, as they have shipped in just 22 goals in 27 matches in the league and four in six in the group stage of the Champions League.

However, Chelsea haven't come up against very stiff competition in Europe so far this campaign. Inter were drawn in a group that was comprised of the domestic champions of Spain, Italy, Ukraine and Russia, and they still managed to progress through to the knockout stages, finishing just two points behind Barcelona, while the only truly competitive team that Chelsea had to face in their group was Porto.

Ancelotti knows all about the current Inter side, having been involved in several games against them during his eight-year coaching tenure with Milan. The Italian will also be aware that Inter can be cynically defensive at times at home in order to not concede any goals, but with Didier Drogba in red-hot form the 50-year-old will expect his side them to score at San Siro on Wednesday night.

TEAM NEWS

Inter

Cristian Chivu is out until March with injury while Marco Materazzi and Davide Santon are doubtful for this fixture. Mario Balotelli should be back in contention for a place in the Inter squad after missing the weekend game against Sampdoria. First-choice custodian Julio Cesar has suffered bruises to his face after smashing his Lamborghini in a road accident near the San Siro on Sunday night. His injury is not said to be serious but there is still a doubt whether he can start against Chelsea on Wednesday night.

Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Zanetti; Cambiasso, Muntari, Thiago Motta; Sneijder; Eto'o, Milito

Chelsea

Chelsea have received some welcome news ahead of their trip to Milan as both Alex and Juliano Belletti have made the squad. Alex has overcome his knee injury and Belletti is back in action after a month out with a knee injury. Jose Bosingwa, Michael Essien and Ashley Cole are long-term injury concerns and have not been included in the squad and neither has Yury Zhirkov. Deco is also unavailable but Frank Lampard is back for Wednesday night's fixture.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Cech; Belletti, Terry, Carvalho, Ivanovic; Mikel, Ballack, Cole; Lampard, Drogba, Anelka.

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Great job Khanye, what team will you be supporting?

A score draw will be a great result @ d san siro, and a victory over inter will be icing on the cake

Inter 1-1 chelsea, lets go thereeeee

In as much as i dislike chealsea, i think i may have to give them this win

Inter will win this game. 2-1

I expect a thriller tonight,those Inter guys are in top form,hope the pensioners don't slow them down too much.Oops I said it

Rasputin a mystic lyk u shud know dt Inter r definitely not on form havin failed 2 win a league match in 3 games and failing 2 score in 2 while pickin up 2 red cards! Was it wishful thinkin on ur part or r u just plain ignorant?

jalether:

Great job Khanye, what team will you be supporting?

A score draw will be a great result @ d san siro, and a victory over inter will be icing on the cake

Inter 1-1 chelsea, lets go thereeeee

INTER, because of Samu Eto

My Etooooooooooo inter all the way 2:0

Chelsea to nick this.

Intermilan 1 - 2 Chelsea

Samu will take the day.
Becoz of him, I support Inter.

Chelski, una go pai for siro.

Anyone expecting a spectacle is a wishful thinker. This game will be a classic example of 'Flintstone-Football'. . . 0-0

Jose mourinho , Jose mourinho
Jose mourinho , Jose mourinho

Oh , hang on, he's on the other side now.
wooopsie!!

Any hyped game only always ends up a drab match. Too much noise pre-match ups expectations but leads to disappoinment.
The same happened to Inter-Barca first leg match at San Siro.
I will not be surprised or disappointed when the match ends up devoid of any spectacular game.
The two teams will play defensively with Chelsae hoping to use Drogba in counter attack.

I expect to see some temper flying resulting in a red card. In all, no goals will be recorded.

Inter wud probably win d 1st leg,bt Chelsea gets my nod for d whole tie.

inter will carry the day FORZA inter

the match will end with a goal apiece

Forza Inter

I believe what Chelsea can do and hoping to see chelsea repeating what man utd did to milan. Wit drogba any thing is possible.

Bad belle people everywhere, una go see us they go higner higher

[size=13pt]Inter vs Chelsea -- my God!

Two Teams made by Mourinho, yawns! [/size]

I'm Just looking forward to Mourinho's press conference, so he can come up with gems like this. . .

On his new job at Stamford Bridge: "If I wanted to have an easy job, I would have stayed at Porto - beautiful blue chair, the UEFA Champions League trophy, God, and after God, me."

@Khanye! good job on your copy and paste. 

San Siro! . . .Let's go there. . .

Supporting Chelsea for this one

Those chelsea machines will defeat inter anywhere.

A Barca man had to do our matchday thread.
Hope this won't bring us bad luck? 

We've already beaten Inter once this season.
A tough game no doubt. I expect a goal draw.

rocnaija:

I'm Just looking forward to Mourinho's press conference, so he can come up with gems like this. . .

On his new job at Stamford Bridge: " If I wanted to have an easy job, I would have stayed at Porto - beautiful blue chair, the UEFA Champions League trophy, God, and after God, me."

Classic Mourinho. 
How I miss him.

It may well end 1 - 1.
Any other result may just fabour chelsea
My main concern for chelsea is at their left full back; unless i am mistaken the russian is injured and may not feature; that will unleash micon on the chelsea left back

Chelsea all d way, I hope Belleti can do the job 'cos Maicon is a threat. we need away goals, it is very important.

9jafreak:

[size=13pt]Inter vs Chelsea -- my God!

Two Teams made by Mourinho, yawns! [/size]

I laff in urhobo
Chelsea may be, but Inter Nahhhhhhhhhh

Serious concerns for Chelsea at the left back position cos Maicon is always dangerous going forward.
Mourinho will want to exploit that weakness.
Diego Milito far more dangerous than samuel etoo,
Drogba has a way of leaving his mark in ties like this, He might be Chelsea's saviour on the night.
either a draw or inter might just pip chelsea to it.