Porto vs Chelsea

[BlueLion. 21,491]

FC Porto vs Chelsea

25 November 2009, UCL, Estadi do Dragao, 1945 KO

Chelsea head to Portugal to face FC Porto in a crunch Champions League group match.

A win for Chelsea would see them finish Group D as winners and give them a potentially more-favourable draw in the next round. However, the Blues have never beaten Porto away from Stamford Bridge, having lost 2-1 and drawn 1-1 under Jose Mourinho at the Dragao.

Match chat here.

[EskWeston 696]

Even though we have already qualified we need to win this game to ensure we finish top of our group, team selection will be interesting with Arsenal in mind at the weekend, but i think we will field our strongest available 11 for this one.

[Fulham Broadway 16,920]

Squad for tomorrow

Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, Ivanovic, A. Cole, Zhirkov, Carvalho, Terry, Alex, Essien, Belletti, Mikel, Ballack, Malouda, Kakuta, Deco, J. Cole, Kalou, Anelka, Drogba.

Talk about strength in depth ! Good to see Kakuta in there as well - but probs wont get a run out as I think he played in the reserves last night......

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Probably end up being something like this;

Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Essien, Ballack, Malouda, Joe Cole, Drogba, Anelka/

[Laylabelle 9,381]

Dont think gana be easy with Porto through as well be a case of who finishes top but hopfully can get a good result and volia!

[Alee. 182]

Is Drogs 100% ? Maybe bring him in the second half so hes fully fit for the Arse-Anal game.

[ChelseaChick 430]

Glad joe coles in the squad! Hoping to see Kakuta get a run as well. Looking forward to it but dont think it will be an easy game

[ruggedknot 105]

This won't be an easy game by any stretch. I think a narrow victory is likely to happen, would like to see Zhirkov play for a good half or more.

[caesarblues 51]

link streaming

http://www.iraqgoals.net/ch1.html

http://tv.indonewyork.com/soccer3/

[Ray. 217]

Maybe it will be third time lucky as we haven't beaten them on the last 2 outings. Fingers crossed :blue scalf:

[Shane 2,275]

a draw will do me fine if i'm being honest

[millzy_chelsea_fan 4]

TEAM NEWS: PORTO V Chelsea

Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack both return to the starting line-up.

Anelka will partner Drogba with Deco in behind them.

Yury Zhirkov will play his 50th European match at left-back, his first Chelsea start since the QPR Carling Cup game two months ago.

Porto make three changes from the side that lost at Stamford Bridge.

Beto comes in to goal, Sapenaru will play right-back and Rodriguez is preferred to Hulk on the left of the attack.

Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-diamond-2 formation:

1 Petr Cech

2 Branislav Ivanovic

6 Ricardo Carvalho

26 John Terry ©

18 Yury Zhirkov

12 John Mikel Obi

13 Michael Ballack

15 Florent Malouda

20 Deco

39 Nicolas Anelka

11 Didier Drogba

Substitutes: 23 Ross Turnbull, 3 Ashley Cole, 33 Alex, 35 Juliano Belletti, 5 Michael Essien, 10 Joe Cole, 21 Salomon Kalou.

.

Porto are expected to line up in the following 4-3-3 formation:

Beto; Sapenaru, Rolando, Bruno Alves ©, Pereira; Belluschi, Fernando, Raul Meireles; Varela, Falcao, Rodriguez.

Substitutes: Nuno, Guarin, Valeri, Macion, Helton, Farias, Hulk.

The referee is Jonas Eriksson from Sweden

Edited November 25, 2009 by millzy_chelsea_fan

[Ricky10 5]

Where is Kakuta?

[Alee. 182]

Quite a few absentees from the midfield.

[.sum41 229]

http://hqsportz.net/chan1.html

[Steve 10,227]

Good to see Yuri getting a start

Come on lads lets get a win!!

[Steve 10,227]

Come on Chelsea

Game underway!!

[Drogba11CFC 108]

Anelka shoots wide