Chelsea
have already secured their passage to the Champions League last 16 but
Sporting Lisbon will follow them with at least a draw or if Schalke fail to
beat Maribor.
Jose Morinho’s team claimed top spot in Group G with a win over Schalke on
matchday five and Sporting Lisbon go to Stamford Bridge following the
Londoners first league defeat of the season at the weekend, away to
Newcastle.
The last time the two teams met Nemanja Matic scored in a 1-0 Chelsea win in
Portugal and Sporting have failed to win in their four previous away games
against Premier League sides.
The visitors will be looking for winger Nani to continue his fine form - the
on-loan Manchester United man has scored four goals in the competition this
season.
Team News
Mourinho has opted to give defender John Terry the night off, along with
Eden Hazard and Willian but striker Diego Costa will start, despite his
hamstring complaint.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the 18-year-old midfielder, is included in the squad
with Mourinho likely to balance rotating his options and giving youth a
chance as he tries to keep his side in tune for the busy festive programme.
Goalkeeper Petr Cech could get a third start in the competition this term
after twice playing against Slovenia's Maribor. Matic is available after
missing the Newcastle clash through suspension.
Opta Facts
Chelsea are, alongside Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and FC Porto, one of the
only four sides to have won their groups after just five Matchdays in the
Champions League this season.
Hazard has also won more fouls than any other player in the competition
(19).
Sporting have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their 12 European away
games against English sides, conceding 24 goals in the process.
In 141 European games between English and Portuguese sides, the British
clubs have won 71 and have kept 48 clean sheets (D32 L38).
Sporting have gone through a Champions League group stage just once
(2008/2009). They can do it again this season with a draw against Chelsea.
Graeme Souness' view
"Chelsea did all the hard early on and they can just focus on the league
game at the weekend, this is nothing for them. Again, this game will be
decided on what team Mourinho picks because Lisbon are not a bad team.
“They’re a Portuguese team who will be great on the front foot and if you’re
not bang at it they could beat you - they are full of flare and imagination.
No one wants to lose at home.”
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