UEFA Champions League Match Preview: Chelsea FC vs Atlético Madrid

European Night At Stamford Bridge!

The stage is set for an epic encounter and another massive Champions League match-up this midweek when Chelsea host Atlético Madrid in the return leg of the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

Chelsea came away with a 0-0 draw from the Vicente Caldron last week, having nullified Atlético’s attacking magnum. The Blues however lost Petr Cech to a season-ending injury. Mark Schwarzer stepped up and put in a solid display.

A win and Chelsea will go through. Any scoring draw, however, will send Atlético into the finals.

DATE & TIME: April 30, 2014 at 14:45 EST; April 30, 2014 at 19:45 GMT; April 30, 2014 at 19:45 WAT; April 30, 2014 at 20:45 CAT; April 30, 2014 at 21:45 EAT; May 1, 2014 at 00:15 IST.

VENUE: Stamford Bridge, London, England.

TV/STREAMING NEWS: The match will be telecast live on ESPN Australia/Pacific Rim in Australia, SuperSport 3 Africa in African continent, Sportsnet East/West/Pacific/Ontario in Canada, Fox Sports 2 Cono Sur in Colombia, beIN Sports Arabia 1 HD/2 HD/11 HD/13 HD in Egypt, Ten HD/Action/Sports in India, Sky Calcio 1 & Sky Sport HD 1 in Italy, Sukachan 0 in Japan, Astro Supersport 3 in Malaysia, C+ Liga de Campeones/HD in Spain, beIN Sports Arabia 1 HD/2 HD/11 HD/13 HD in UAE, Sky Sports 1/HD in UK and Fox Sports 1 in USA.
The match is available online on UEFA.com internationally, Sportsnet World Online in Canada, Sky Go in Germany & UK, Ten Sports Live in India and FoxSoccer2Go in USA.
You can also catch the game on BBC Radio 5 Live in UK.

CHELSEA FC SQUAD NEWS: Samuel Eto’o and Eden Hazard are expected to return to the starting XI following their lay off due to injury. Jose Mourinho has expressed he is hopeful John Terry will recover in time for the game. Petr Cech, who suffered a dislocated shoulder, is unavailable. Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel are suspended, having picked up a booking in the first leg. Mohammad Salah & Nemanja Matic are ineligible.

ATLÉTICO MADRID SQUAD NEWS: The only player Diego Simeone will miss, is the Atlético captain & midfield general Gabi, who was cautioned in the first leg, and hence picked up a suspension.

REFEREE: Niccola Rizzoli(Italy).

COMPETITION FORM INDEX: Atlético – DWWWDW; Chelsea – LWDWLW.

FUN TRIVIA:

• The last time Chelsea faced Atlético in the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League group stage, the Blues collected four points from their Spanish rivals to finish top of Group D.
• Atlético are the only unbeaten side remaining in the competition and boast the meanest defence, having conceded only five goals in ten games.
• Atlético defeated Chelsea in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup through a Radamel Falcao hat-trick.
• Chelsea have won only one of their four previous UEFA competition semi-finals against Spanish opponents, against FC Barcelona in the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

Chelsea have a difficult job in hand. Atlético have arguably been one of the best sides in Europe’s premier competition and boast of a solid, all-round team. However, should Chelsea turn up the way they did in the last European night at Stamford Bridge, we could head into our third Champions League final.