Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti named his team yesterday and he has left out Frank Lampard, who is recovering from a hernia operation, while full back Ashley Cole is rested.
With striker Didier Drogba suspended, Daniel Sturridge gets the chance to partner Nicolas Anelka in attack. Yossi Benayoun will make his first start since his summer move from Liverpool, while skipper John Terry plays despite bruising his ribs in the 3-1 win against West Hm.


Carlo Ancelotti knows all about the search for the Holy Grail
Ancelotti masterminded an impressive league and cup Double last season but, ironically, it was former Blues’ boss Jose Mourinho that ended the club’s hopes of winning the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Mourinho’s Inter Milan beat Chelsea home and away in the round of 16 and that early European exit was the only blemish on what was an otherwise stellar campaign.

Chelsea broke the 100-goal barrier in the Premiership last term, with Drogba scoring 29 of those goals to win the Golden Boot.

There was limited transfer activity for Chelsea in the summer, with just midfielders Benayoun and Ramires arriving at Stamford Bridge, however, the welcome return to fitness of John Obi Mikel and, in particular, Michael Essien will feel like two new signings.

Since taking over the club seven years ago, owner Roman Abramovich has invested some £700 million in the club but the Champions League trophy remains the elusive piece of silverware.

There have been three league titles, a Double and numerous domestic cups since 2003, but the Champions League is widely reported to be the Holy Grail as far as the Russian is concerned.

And in Ancelotti, Abramovich has appointed a man who has won the competition twice as a player and twice as a coach.

But Ancelotti said: “Obviously he wants to win the Champions League, but winning the Premier League is the same.

“It is not a mental problem for Chelsea. Our first aim is to get to the final. If you get that far, you have done a good job. After that, it is the time to prepare for the final.”

On paper anyway, Chelsea should have few problems against their opponents MSK Zilina even though Slovakian football is on a high after the national team reached the World Cup finals.

Zilina have already played three qualifying rounds to get this far, while their average home crowds rarely exceed 5,000.

Match

My blood is blue

This will be a walk in the park for my Chelsea

Scored draw

DIS SEASON UCL TROPHY IS 4 CHELSEA, NO OTHER CLUB CAN TACKLE D BLUES, blues all d wayy
^{chelsea till death, sure banker}

Blues all the way

let the winning continue

I heard somewhere that the match is supposed to begin by 6pm naija time. Can someone pls confirm this?

kannymoore:

I heard somewhere that the match is supposed to begin by 6pm naija time. Can someone pls confirm this?

Its 7:45pm naija time. Don't miss it

1-0 Essien,

King ESSIEN

Anelka , 2-0

Anelka, 2-0

Anelka again. 3-0

Anelka 3- 0 ,

pls i need to link to watch d match . pls somebody help.

Cech! What a nice save

0-3 already. Abeg who dey home ooooh. 4 person house again. Up Chelsea

tolutweety:

pls i need to link to watch d match . pls somebody help.

You can watch it here: http://atdhe.net/24138/watch-zilina-vs-chelsea

4-0 Sturridge. Good dance steps sturridge

4 nil , Sturridge ,

What is going on now??
The slovaks have had a swell time on the left hand side of our defence.

Jerk off had better sort himself out

Even the right side of defence is under some cosh.

Na wa for this our defence ooo

It will end 4-1 chelsea.
nice.

arsenal at 6-0!
sweet.