Chelsea vs. QPR Preview

Chelsea will turn their attentions towards a crucial Premier League clash with QPR at Stamford Bridge on Sunday April 29, following on from a daunting trip to the Nou Camp to face Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final.

And the Blues approach to this fixture should be greatly affected by the match in Spain which is likely to take a lot of energy out of the squad.

Nevertheless, the hosts will have to obtain a result here in order to stay in touch with fourth place in the table and possible qualification for Europe’s top club competition next season.

They also have the extra incentive of trying to avoid being on the receiving end of an unexpected league double following their ill-tempered 1-0 loss at Loftus Road earlier in the campaign.

That was one of many vital home results obtained by the Hoops during the course of the season and Mark Hughes’ men have largely impressed against what may be regarded as the stronger clubs in the division.

Liverpool and Spurs have also fallen to QPR in recent weeks and the London strugglers would undoubtedly be higher up the table had they approached games against lesser opposition in the same manner.

Premier League safety could well be assured however after opening a three point cushion on the relegation zone, but defeat at the Bridge would leave QPR back in trouble again.

Consistency has been the name of the game for Roberto Di Matteo since taking over at the Bridge on an interim basis and it will be extremely interesting to see how well the Italian can galvanise his troops on the back of their exertions in Catalunya.

Whether Chelsea progress in Europe or not, they are likely to feel a shock comedown just days later in a return to domestic action as Barcelona look set to give them a gruelling ninety minutes in midweek.

The Blues do not have the biggest squad around and inevitably there will be some players who will be engaged in both important fixtures.

Conditioning will be key to any Chelsea success here and league form cannot be taken as sole reason for backing the hosts at 1/3.

Di Matteo’s side would be fancied 100% of the time at home to the Hoops in regular circumstances but it is asking a lot of any club to recover adequately enough on the back of a Barcelona clash to be fit and ready for a Premier League fixture.

One way or another, QPR could smell blood and a degree of vulnerability from their opponents.

They will be buoyed by their recent victory against Tottenham and success in this reverse fixture earlier in the campaign and can take momentum with them across West London.

It is certainly asking a lot for the Hoops to come away with all the points, nevertheless they should be capable of preventing a Chelsea win one way or another and a double result for the visitors at 9/4 sizes up as a fantastic wager.

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23/04/2012     © Frixo 2024