toptop



October 19, 2015


Dynamo Kiev v, Chelsea Preview  (Sky Sports)

Diego CostaChelsea travel to Ukraine to face Dynamo Kiev hoping to move back into the top two in Champions League Group G.

The Blues have lost six of their last 13 games in all competitions - compared to a record of four defeats in 54 games last season - and a comfortable 4-0 home win over Maccabi Tel Aviv on Champions League Matchday One was followed by a 2-1 defeat in Porto two weeks later.

Jose Mourinho will hope for greater consistency after a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday got his side back on track, ending a three-game winless run. Diego Costa was on the score-sheet for the first time since Chelsea's win over Maccabi Tel Aviv on September 16.

Dynamo Kiev's 38-match unbeaten run in the Ukrainian league came to an end with Friday's 3-0 home defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Sergei Rebrov's side, with four points from their opening two Champions League games, are looking to get out of the group stage for the first time in their last 11 attempts.

Team news

Striker Loic Remy and forward Pedro did not travel to Kiev due to minor injuries, while Eden Hazard could return to the starting line-up having been dropped for the victory over Aston Villa.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (knee) and Branislav Ivanovic (hamstring) are out, so there is a choice to be made at right back, with Cesar Azpilicueta, Ramires, Kurt Zouma and 19-year-old Ola Aina options, and Baba Rahman a possibility to continue at left-back.

Opta stats

Dynamo Kiev are currently second in the Ukrainian League with 28pts from 11 games.

Kiev are playing in the group stage for the 15th time - they have failed to get beyond the group in their last 10 attempts.

Chelsea are 12pts worse off in the Premier League than at this stage last season, having dropped 16pts - they dropped just six points from their opening 14 games last season.

Hazard is one away from 50 goals for Chelsea however he is on his longest run without a goal for the club - 15 games.

Willian has scored in four of his last five appearances. He had scored just eight in 97 for Chelsea before that.





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