Kick-Off: Sunday, March 16th, 19:45 GMT.Stamford Bridge, West London.
Chelsea and Inter lock horns as they meet up in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League.
Inter leading from the first leg by two goals to one will be watching to thump Chelsea out and progressing to the quarter finals. The English side who showed a weak performance in the first leg and also got their shot-stopper Petr Cech injured have a Herculean task to perform on their home ground.
TEAM NEWS:
CHELSEA:
The only thing that Chelsea would be worried about will be their faltered defence since the injury of Petr Cech and he being replaced by Ross Turnbull. As compared to their English counterparts in the Champions League Manchester United and Arsenal, Chelsea have the weakest second-choice goal-keepers but the Italian boss still trusts the former Boro 'keeper. Chelsea's dependance on Petr Cech in important fixtures clearly showed when The Blues lost to Manchester City by 4-2
in a Premier League fixture.
In other news, Chelsea still have a derby fixture against West-Ham United which may bring out, god forbid, further fatigue and injuries if any. Notable players include Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and all the other veterans who add the Champions League experience to the English Side.
INTERNAZIONALE:
It's Jose Mourinho once again who'll be coming back to the Stamford Bridge and he's the one (see Special One) worth watching there. Will he? Won't he? These questions must be right now oscillating in Roman Abramovich's head. Inter have an advantage of the first leg and with the astonishing Samuel Eto'o being still doubtful and Christian Chivu having a long term absence, Inter have to think about something. Mario Balotelli had reported a knee injury which calls him off the game as well.
The in-form Diego Milito would be the player worth a watch from the Italian side.
FORM GUIDE:
CHELSEA:
Chelsea:
March 7 v Stoke City (H) - WON 2-0 (FA Cup)
Feb 27 v Manchester City (A) - LOST 2-4 (Premier League)
Feb 24 v Inter (A) LOST 2-1
Feb 20 v Wolves (A) WON 0-2 (Premier League)
Feb 13 v Cardiff City (H) WON 4-1 (FA Cup)
INTERNAZIONALE:
March 7 v Catania (A) - LOST 3-1 (Seria A)
March 7 v Genoa (H) - DREW 0-0 (Serie A)
Feb 28 v Udinese (A) - WON 3-2 (Serie A)
Feb 24 v Chelsea (H) - WON 2-1 (Champions League)
Feb 20 v Sampdoria (H) - DREW 0-0 (Serie A)
PREDICTION:
If you take a closer look; It's Carlo Ancelotti VS Jose Mourinho once again after Ancelotti left AC Milan for Chelsea last summer. Every detail except the Champions League experience goes towards Inter. Chelsea have been great performers in the Champions League but if we look at Ancelotti; if he wasn't able to beat Mourinho's side with Kaka, Pato, Beckham, Ronaldinho, Nesta, Pirlo and other such greats, he wouldn't be able to make it with the aging Lampard, Drogba, Ballack, etc. Plus he has only less to offer inside the 16 yard box. But these are the players who have reached the Champions League final and semi final for two consecutive years. Further, this year champions league has only surprises to offer. Liverpool's exit, Fiorentina's exit due to refereeing errors, Real Madrid thumped by Olympique Lyon and Arsene Wenger hoping to see off Chelsea or Manchester United in further K.O. stages(pun intended), we can't predict anything in a pragmatic way. The match stays all in a balance.
MY PREDICTION: CHELSEA 0-2 INTERNAZIONALE
(Inter proceed to Quarter-Finals on an aggregate of 4-1)
-PRANAV MUKUL
Kick-Off: Sunday, March 16th, 19:45 GMT.
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