MX23RW : Monday, December 23 10:35:31| >> :60:1077:1077:
[monks data]
Atletico Madrid logo
Champions League | Semi-Finals
Apr 22, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

0-0

FT

Preview: Atletico Madrid vs. Chelsea

Sports Mole looks ahead to the first leg of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final tie with La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.

Jose Mourinho has been here before with Chelsea. In 2005 and 2007 under his management, the Blues reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, only to be knocked out by Liverpool.

The Portuguese head coach will be hoping that it is a case of third time lucky against Atletico Madrid, with the first leg being played at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday night.

However, not only are Atletico unbeaten in front of their own supporters in La Liga this season, which has helped them to top the standings with four matches left to play, no English club has ever won from their trips to the Calderon.

Any positive result that the West Londoners are to achieve will have to be done so without the services of right-back Branislav Ivanovic, who is suspended. Consequently, Mourinho may recall the experienced Ashley Cole, with Cesar Azpilicueta switching flanks to cover Ivanovic's absence.

As well Ivanovic, Eden Hazard could also miss out. The Belgian playmaker has not played for two weeks because of a calf complaint, with the match in the Spanish capital potentially coming too soon.

Elsewhere, Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah are cup-tied, but goalkeeper Petr Cech should recover from illness to feature between the posts.

Meanwhile, Atletico's major selection dilemma heavily centres around the visitors. Thibaut Courtois is in his third season on loan with Los Rojiblancos from Chelsea, but despite having a foot in both camps, UEFA have insisted that there is no clause to prevent the 21-year-old from keeping goal for the home side.

That aside, Diego Simeone has been boosted by the news that Turkish midfielder Arda Turan is fit to feature along with leading goalscorer Diego Costa, who has been heavily linked with a summer switch to Stamford Bridge.

Atletico may have shown positive home form this term, but it's worth noting that Chelsea have not lost in Spain since a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis back in 2005 - a run that dates back seven Iberian encounters.

Recent form

Atletico: WDWWWW

Chelsea: LLWWWL

Possible starting lineups

Atletico: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe; Suarez, Gabi, Koke, Turan; Villa; Costa

Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Lampard, Ramires; Oscar, Willian, Schurrle; Eto'o

Sports Mole says: 1-0


ID:151053: cacheID:151053:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5090:
Written by
Liam Apicella
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jose Mourinho manager of Chelsea looks on prior to during the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and Chelsea at Craven Cottage on March 1, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Chelsea vs. Sunderland
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool660018
2Barcelona650115
3B. Leverkusen641113
4Inter Milan641113
5Brest641113
6Arsenal641113
7Aston Villa641113
8Lille641113
9Bayern640212
10Dortmund640212
11Atletico640212
12AC Milan640212
13Atalanta632111
14Juventus632111
15Benfica631210
16Feyenoord631210
17Brugge631210
18Monaco631210
19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Real Madrid63039
21Celtic62319
22Man City62228
23PSV62228
24Dinamo Zagreb62228
25PSG62137
26Stuttgart62137
27Shakhtar61144
28Sparta Prague61144
29Sturm Graz61053
30Girona61053
31Red Star61053
32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava60060
36Young Boys60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!