closed Chelsea 1-1 Atletico Madrid

[LAM09 7,056]

Need to go for the win to claim top spot. It's that simple

[Jase 43,479]

Given we were handed two big sides in this group, it's quite a relief that we have managed to secure R16 qualification before this game. Have to thank Qarabag for their little help against Atletico. Had Atletico managed to take 6 points off Qarabag, they would be level on (10) points now with us with Roma just behind on 8 points. That would have meant we need to beat Atletico to ensure progression. Otherwise, we would mostly likely be heading to the Europa League!

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Namika 922]

As things stand, if we finish first we could draw Basel, Juve, Sevilla, Bayern, Real Madrid, Shaktar and Porto, three big teams out of seven. If we finish second the only possibilties are PSG, Barcelona and Besiktas because all the PL Clubs are first.

[Strike 7,492]

We can do a job on anyone with everyone fit. First time we have Kante playing in the Champions League. There is also Hazard who looks like he's itching to make his mark in the competition and Morata who has already performed heroics with Juve. 

Bring em on. Anyone will do in the next round. 

[Blusan Alamb 295]

 

[WNDS 502]

Top spot would be very nice indeed, and I want us to win this game, but I suspect that we'll manage neither. Atletico simply must win to stand a chance of qualifying; they are guaranteed to go all-out and then some. This is the sort of game that Simeone's Atletico specialise in getting results from (CL matches against Real Madrid excluded, of course ), and as much as we may go on about the importance of getting first place in the group, the level of urgency simply isn't 'do-or-die' for us (and thank goodness for that).

[Special Juan 28,141]

Cannot wait for this tonight, think we will win all be it a little tight. But even if we don't finish top of the group I really do like how we are playing right now and fancy us to beat anyone on our day.

I think we will see Bakayoko tonight.

Tibo

Azpilicueta Christiensen Rudiger

Kante Bakayoko

Moses----------------Fabregas------------Alonso

Hazard

Morata

 

[!Hazard! 3,394]

Where are the team news?

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Apparently the Atleti team bus has not arrived yet.

[Stats 7,147]

4 minutes ago, !Hazard! said:

Where are the team news?

Atletico team bus arrived just after 7pm  That is why there is a delay.

[!Hazard! 3,394]

Torres starts 

[Pizy 18,928]

Did our team sheet man take the day off?

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

 

[Pizy 18,928]

Alonso rested. Weird.

[Tomo 21,751]

3 minutes ago, !Hazard! said:

Torres starts 

Extra defender for us, sounds good.

[LAM09 7,056]

Seems like Alonso has been dropped for Zappacosta. Not sure about Moses on the left tbh

2 minutes ago, Pizy said:

He had one poor performance against one of the best attacks in the league. Can't just throw him in the trash like he's dog shit.

He wasn't exactly great against against Utd either. I'd personally have preferred Drinkwater, but I guess Conte is going for the win.

[Leif 6,006]

Drinkwater's earned a start - Bakayoko hasn't. Sums up part of our idiotic policy for the past 10 or so years. Giving games to players just because they cost too much. If Bakayoko came through the youth system on a free, no way on earth he'd start tonight. (And this isn't a fallacy - it's a policy shared by Real Madrid too of course.)

We go into this game weaker than we should be, for the sake of hoping a headless chicken magically turns into Charizard.

[Tomo 21,751]

2 minutes ago, Leif said:

Drinkwater's earned a start - Bakayoko hasn't. Sums up part of our idiotic policy for the past 10 or so years. Giving games to players just because they cost too much. If Bakayoko came through the youth system on a free, no way on earth he'd start tonight. (And this isn't a fallacy - it's a policy shared by Real Madrid too of course.)

We are averaging games every 3 days for the next month, even Hazard and Azpi are being rotated.

[Pizy 18,928]

3 minutes ago, Leif said:

Drinkwater's earned a start - Bakayoko hasn't. Sums up part of our idiotic policy for the past 10 or so years. Giving games to players just because they cost too much. If Bakayoko came through the youth system as a free, no way on earth he'd start tonight.

He had one poor performance against one of the best attacks in the league. Can't just throw him in the trash like he's dog shit.