Strike

yeah. We are always extremely competitive in cups. Just know how to hang in there even if things aren't going especially well. I can't remember the team catapulting completely in a big knockout game in a while. even last year with a thin squad, the team managed to get to the semi-final stage in both domestic competitions and won the Europa to boot. I remember only 2011 when the club failed to reach the later stages of tournaments

England has made a mockery of itself in Europe. Chelsea included. Chelsea, City and United were all dumped out in the group stages since 2010. City even finished bottom once. Arsenal while qualifying for the knockout stages, hasn't made any impact whatsoever there. I'd say, there are about 8-9 teams that can defeat the top English team now as opposed to 3-4 in 2008. So yeah, the top teams have definitely declined

They won away in Moscow too and beat them 5-2 something at home. except Sunderland, Cardiff and Bayern game they haven't had a game where they haven't created enough chances. Strike-force is firing. Depth is there. On the long run they are title contenders. already racked up an insane GD Their away form has been a mystery considering how good they are at home and yeah, all this without Kompany at the back. He'll be a big boost to them because Lescott had poor games in some of those defeats.

Where does that leave us with HG players? Already we don't have enough to register a full squad. Now one HG left-back will be replaced by Coentrao? I doubt it

AVB and his high line

I wouldn't wish to be Ivanovic in that dressing room after the game

Mata and Schurrle will surely get playing time in December but I doubt KdB will get minutes. Especially if Mikel-Ramires-Lampard continues in midfield

there is no obligation to start him. he doesn't fit well with a counter-attacking system. Works far better in a game where Chelsea's trying to break down a stubborn defence

I am not too sure this team can hang with Barca, Real, Bayern. This team while certainly better in attack, will leak goals imo. Kalou, Malouda, Meireles etc weren't the most skilful of players but they were very effective in shutting out the opposition. We did do well against Bayern in the Super Cup but it was just one game. We will have to wait and see if the team can replicate that performance if it does face a big European side again this season And yeah, Didier deserves the reception at the Bridge. Would love for that to happen

generous to include Chelsea there. Arsenal, City have been way better

that's the problem with draw conclusions based on one game while ignoring the other 3 his month. the players are not exactly filled with confidence heading into a tough hectic period of the season. i hope we don't come out of that period outside the top 4. Big games against Arsenal, Liverpool in December

Yeah. The Champions League is stacked this time around. Must win the group. Only Dortmund and Juve among the group runners-up that I'd worry about

if chelsea finishes 2nd in the group, it's a guaranteed tough draw. Real, PSG, Bayern, Atletico or Barca. that will be the end then

The Round of16 looks terrifying tbh. 10-11 good teams in there No chance - Bayern, Barca, Real, Tricky - ManC, ManU, Arsenal, Juventus, Dortmund, Atletico, PSG, Zenit, Manageable - Schalke, Milan, Leverkusen, Benfica Can this team grind out results? that's the question. The players will almost definitely bottle it this year I think

Got schooled by Basel really. Just 2 shots and None on target. A bad game all around. The problem is, it's the third one this month. Got to improve for the Christmas period.

Mata is a bigger name than Carvalho, was one of the best midfielders in the league last season and also, this is a different media frenzy time

Yeah. Lampard is still useful to the club but not starting every game every week

Yeah. Can't draw conclusions based on the one game. But Mata as a winger looks to drift in-field a lot. I'd love a winger who stretches the play wide

think Schurrle, Willian are far better suited. Why should we look to include Mata in the team anyway? The team can do well without him

He's far better at CAM. One of the best in the league while he's an okay winger at best

Fellaini was playing as an attacking midfielder at Everton.. That's when he had a good run of games scoring headers etc. Except for the tough games eg - Arsenal away last year, he was basically a CAM at Everton. I wonder on what basis did United dish out 27million for him to come and play as the CDM/CM.

Oh yeah. My bad.

Yeah. Knee problem. Should be back for the next game I think as there's been no news of a injury layoff.

Imo, Lampard played well because Mikel was picked

It is matchday five in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League group stage season and Chelsea travel to Switzerland to face FC Basel at St.Jakob Park on Tuesday at 19:45 GMT looking to book their place in the Last 16 of the competition. Jose Mourinho's side will be looking to gain revenge on their opponents after the Swiss side shocked Chelsea when they met on matchday one at Stamford Bridge. Murat Yakin's team fell behind to an opener goal from Oscar but managed to rally and secured a shock 2-1 win through goals from Mohamed Salah and Marco Streller to record their first ever European win on English soil. However, Basel have not managed to capitalize on that surprising win since as they have garnered just 2 points in the subsequent three matches against Schalke and - twice - Steaua Bucharest. With a trip to Germany to face Schalke in the final group game, Basel will be keen to get their Champions League campaign back on track and claim a shock double over their illustrious opponents on Tuesday if they are to have any hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage. Chelsea, on the other hand, have responded excellently since that opening day defeat as they have 3 games on the trot against Schalke - twice - and Steaua Bucharest, scoring 10 goals and conceded none and they will be looking to continue the winning run on Tuesday. While a draw would be enough to secure the 2012 Champions League winners place in the last 16, a win would not only achieve that but also effectively winning the group due to having a 3-point lead and a better head-to-head record over second placed Schalke with one game remaining. About the OppositionBasel top the Swiss Super League by three points after coming from behind to beat Thun 4-1 on Saturday with top-scorer Marco Streller on target. Basel have only lost 2 of their 26 competitive matches this season - against FC Zurich and Schalke - and are unbeaten in their last 8 matches in all competitions though half of those have ended in draws. Past Meetings 25th April 2013 - Basel 1-2 Chelsea (in Europa League SF) 2nd May 2013 - Chelsea 3-1 Basel (in Europa League SF) 18th September 2013 - Chelsea 1-2 Basel (in Champions League GS) Team NewsBasel will be without Chilean midfielder Marcelo Diaz who picked up an injury on international duty. They will also be missing Behrang Safari due to a thigh problem. Chelsea have Fernando Torres fit again after the Spanish striker missed the last two games against West Brom and West Ham due to injury but David Luiz will be out for this game with a sore knee and has not travelled with the squad to Switzerland, Mourinho told the press conference earlier. That means that Jose Mourinho could have a full squad to pick from barring Marco van Ginkel, who is a long-term absentee Possible LineupsBasel: Vailati; Voser, Schar, Xhaka, Ajeti; Stocker, Die, Frei, El Nenny; Streller, Sio Chelsea: Cech Ivanovic Cahill Terry Cole Mikel Ramires Schurrle Oscar Hazard Torres Stats and Facts- Basel are unbeaten in their last 4 games against English opposition in the Champions League - W2 D2. They have lost only once in 7 games against English teams in this competition - W2 D4 L1.- Basel's overall European home record against English teams - P10 W3 D3 L4- Chelsea were 29 home group stage games unbeaten prior to their 2-1 loss to FC Basel 1893 on matchday one.- Chelsea's next draw in UEFA competition will be their 50th.- Chelsea have finished as winners of their group in seven of the last ten campaigns and qualified as runners-up in two of the others.- Chelsea have failed to score in just one of their last 24 Champions League games- Mourinho, who has lifted the trophy with both FC Porto (2004) and Internazionale (2010), is bidding to become the first manager to win the Champions League with three different teams- Basel have only kept 8 clean sheets in 26 competitive matches in all competitions this season. Match OddsBasel WIN 3/1Draw 27/11Chelsea WIN 11/13 Coverage:Depending on where you are from, you can watch the match in the following channels: United Kingdom: Sky Go UK, Sky Sports 2/HD United States: FOX Sports 1 Middle East: Al Jazeera Sports Brazil: ESPN, ESPN3 South America, ESPN Play Latin AmericaBelgium: Belgacom 11+ India: TEN Sports LIVE, Ten HD For additional regions, you can check out the TV schedule for the match here. There should be many match streams that can be found online if your local sports channels are not broadcasting the game or if you happen to be busy and cannot catch the game live, follow TalkChelsea on Twitter as it would provide live match commentary on the action. Click here to view article