Di Matteo`s Schalke Host Chelsea Seeking Qualification

Champions League

Football
Published: 24/11/2014

Chelsea will be hoping to continue their undefeated run in all competitions away at Schalke 04 in the Champions League on Tuesday (25th November). The German club are in second place in Group G and three points behind the Blues, though Jose Mourinho`s side`s superior goal difference means that they should remain at the top of the table win, lose or draw. A win however would also seal Schalke`s qualification in second place.

Schalke are seventh in their domestic league and have got back to winning ways following an unlikely 2-0 defeat away at strugglers Freiburg. Two goals from Eric Choupo-Moting put Roberto Di Matteo`s men in the lead against second placed Wolfsburg last time out with this brace quickly followed by an on-target effort from Christian Fuchs in the 25th minute. Wolfsburg managed to reduce the deficit to one goal though the home side held on for the win.

Opening their Champions League account, ex-Chelsea manager Di Matteo used his knowledge of his former club to his advantage to hold the rampant side to a 1-1 draw away from home. Cesc Fabregas put the Stamford Bridge outfit 1-0 in front before Klaas-Jan Huntelaar levelled up in the second half. Eleven to four (Numerous) says that the match will end a draw once again whilst punters can get 7/1 (Betvictor) on a correct 1-1 prediction.

Huntelaar came to the rescue again to secure a point for his team in their game against Maribor. Damjan Bohar broke the deadlock for the bottom-of-the-table side before Huntelaar hit ten minutes into the second half.

Their home encounter against Sporting was balanced at 1-1 at half time with Chinedu Bolasi grabbing the goal for the Miners. Despite having a man dismissed, the Lisbon club then successfully fought back from 3-1 down after Huntelaar and Benedikt Howedes found the back of the net. The 4-3 victory was recorded for Schalke when top scorer Choupo-Moting converted his late penalty.

Schalke were on the end of a 4-2 defeat last time out, however, in their return fixture in Lisbon. Dennis Aogo scored the side`s only goal after an early Islam Slimani own goal.

In-form strikers Choupo-Moting and Huntelaar are available at 18/5 and 5/2 with 32red, 888sport and unibet to score at any time against the Premier League leaders. Having both scored and failed to keep a clean sheet in all their previous Champions League encounters, Schalke can be backed at 9/2 (betfred) to not concede and 1/2 (ladbrokes) to bag over 0.5 goals.

Chelsea continued their Champions League campaign in good form following their Schalke tie earning themselves a slight 1-0 victory over Sporting. Nemanja Matic grabbed the opener 34 minutes into the match.

Didier Drogba and Eden Hazard both converted penalties in their 6-0 win over Ante Simundza`s Maribor. Loic Remy grabbed the opener with John Terry effort and an own goal contributing towards the emphatic win. Hazard`s late completion of his brace sealed the result for the Blues.

The return fixture was less of a spectacle with the match ending 1-1 in Slovenia. Again, Matic scored the only goal for the London side after Agim Ibraimi broke the deadlock. The 26-year-old Serbian is 25/1 (Numerous) to score the opener tonight and is 16/1 with Betvictor and betway to be the first Chelsea goalscorer.

Despite being held away from home by the Slovenian champions, Mourinho`s men are the 17/20 (betway, Bwin, william hill) favourites to rule supreme in this match-up. Di Matteo`s team are 15/4 (Betvictor) to help him to a victory over his former employer.

Schalke are still without midfield maestro Julian Draxler, whilst Mourinho should have all his squad available to him.

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Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (24/11/2014) but are subject to change.

24/11/2014     © Frixo 2024

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