Match Preview: Chelsea FC vs AS Roma

Chelsea FC face AS Roma in the last test in pre-season before the players return to UK for the season-opener against Hull City. Chelsea lost their last match vs Real Madrid in the finals of the International Champions Cup. The scoreline was disappointing, but as Jose Mourinho stated, pre-season is all about experimenting & ensuring the players reach the optimum fitness level before the true rigors of the season start.
Let us take a look at all the information we need before the game.
DATE & TIME: August 10, 2013 at 8:00 pm EDT; August 11, 2013 at 00:00 am GMT; August 11, 2013 at 01:00 am BST; August 11, 2013 at 05:30 am IST.
VENUE: RFK Stadium, Washington DC, USA.
TV/STREAMING NEWS: Chelsea TV will stream the game live.
CHELSEA FC TEAM NEWS: Jose Mourinho will have the following players at his avail:
Petr Cech, Mark Schwarzer, Henrique Hilario, Jamal Blackman, Branislav ivanovic, Ashley Cole, Ryan Bertrand, Cesar Azpilicueta, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Frank Lampard, Marco van Ginkel, John Obi Mikel, Michael Essien, Ramires, Victor Moses, Juan Mata, Kevin De Bruyne, Oscar, Eden Hazard, Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, Romelu Lukaku.
Juan Mata may or may not get a few minutes based on his physical condition. Mourinho had earlier confirmed that Mata’s injury concern was nothing serious. David Luiz, however, will not play any part as the manager has decided he won’t be risking the Brazillian CB unless he has completely shaken off his hamstring problem.
Jose Mourinho is expected to give all the players a certain amount minutes on pitch. There will be no fixed line-up & substitutions will be happening as the manager pleases.
AS ROMA TEAM NEWS: Roma will be choosing their team from the following players: Alessandro Florenzi, Mehdi Benatia, Michael Bradley, Federico Balzaretti, Nicolas Burdisso, Morgan De Sanctis, Gianluca Caprari, Maicon, Dodo, Marquinho, Erik Lamela, Bogdan Lobont, Leandro Castan, Alessandro Crescenzi, Tin Jedvaj, Pablo Osvalso, Miralem Pjanic, Matteo Ricci, Gadji Tallo, Vasilis Torosidis, Valerrio Verre, Alessio Romagnoli, Lukasz Skorupski, Bogdan Lobont, Kevin Strootman, Rodrigo Taddei, Daniele Se Rossi, Francesco Totti.

Rudi Garcia started with the following line-up against Toronto in their last pre-season game which Roma won 4-1: De Sanctis, Maicon, Burdisso, Jedvaj, Dodo, Taddei, Bradley, Florenzi, Lamela, Borriello, Marquinho.
IN A NUTSHELL: With the season just a week away, this will be the last chance to try out different strategies and formations before the real deal begins. Most of the squad members will be off to their national teams after this game in order to play the international friendlies, so, the club will hope the players avoid any kinds of injuries.
Come on you Blues!!!