Chelsea
could secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with victory
over Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Tuesday.
If the Blues win, and Dynamo Kiev fail to beat Porto, then the Premier
League champions will qualify for the knockout stages, while a draw would be
enough if Dynamo lose.
They start as favourites against struggling Maccabi, who are yet to pick up
a point in Group G and lost the reverse fixture 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Jose Mourinho acknowledged his side will "be in trouble" if they lose but
says confidence is improving after the 1-0 win over Norwich at the weekend.
The Blues have struggled on the road in the Champions League recently,
winning just two of their last 10 away games.
Team news
Chelsea have no fresh injury concerns and the only two players not to travel
are goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and striker Radamel Falcao.
Dejan Radonjic is a doubt for Maccabi with a calf injury but former Chelsea
defender Tal Ben Haim is expected to be passed fit.
Opta stats
This will be the second meeting between the sides in Europe after Chelsea's
emphatic win in the reverse fixture in September.
Maccabi have won just one of their last 10 Champions League matches, have
scored the joint-fewest goals in the competition this season (1) and
conceded the joint-most (11).
Just four of Chelsea's last 13 Champions League goals have come from open
play.
Three of Willian's four attempts from direct free-kicks in this season's
Champions League have found the back of the net.
However, Chelsea have won 80 per cent of their matches when the Brazilian
has not started for them in this competition compared to just 42.1 per cent
when he has.
Maccabi are facing English opposition in Europe for just the fourth time
overall, they have scored just one goal and conceded nine in the previous
three games.
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