Chelsea v Basle: Big-match lowdown
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Chelsea v Basle: Big-match lowdown on the Champions League Group E clash
Chelsea take on Basle on Wednesday night in their opening Champions League game of the season at Stamford Bridge. Heres a look at what we can expect.
Joses cracking us up
Young eggs that need a dad Crack the other one, Jose. Lampard, Terry, Etoo, Cole, Luiz, Mata even the tenderly-aged Hazard and Co are hardly short on experience. Dampening expectation but at the same time dismissing Rafa Benitezs Europa League triumph last term That is not Chelseas competition a transparent motivational tactic probably but still dubious. Basle are no slouches but if Mourinho cant deal with the Swiss, who Benitez saw off 3-1 at the Bridge last term, then he will seriously be left with egg on his face.
Key battle: Oscar v Fabian Frei
Six goals in the Champions League last season suggest young egg Oscar has hatched and spread his wings. Deep-lying midfielder Fabian Frei (right) will have to be at his best as Oscar tries to unlock the Swiss defence. The more the 24-year-old can do that, the more the likes of Egyptian magician Mohamed Salah, who scored in the Europa semi-final between the clubs last term, can pick the hosts pockets on the counter.
Did you know
Basle overcame Israels Maccabi Tel Aviv and Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets Razgrad to qualify for the group stages.
Possible teams
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Oscar, Schurrle, Etoo.
FC Basle: Sommer, Degen, Ivanov, Schar, Xhaka, Elnery, Frei, Diaz, Stocker, Salah, Streller.
Chelsea take on Basle on Wednesday night in their opening Champions League game of the season at Stamford Bridge. Heres a look at what we can expect.
Joses cracking us up
Young eggs that need a dad Crack the other one, Jose. Lampard, Terry, Etoo, Cole, Luiz, Mata even the tenderly-aged Hazard and Co are hardly short on experience. Dampening expectation but at the same time dismissing Rafa Benitezs Europa League triumph last term That is not Chelseas competition a transparent motivational tactic probably but still dubious. Basle are no slouches but if Mourinho cant deal with the Swiss, who Benitez saw off 3-1 at the Bridge last term, then he will seriously be left with egg on his face.
Key battle: Oscar v Fabian Frei
Six goals in the Champions League last season suggest young egg Oscar has hatched and spread his wings. Deep-lying midfielder Fabian Frei (right) will have to be at his best as Oscar tries to unlock the Swiss defence. The more the 24-year-old can do that, the more the likes of Egyptian magician Mohamed Salah, who scored in the Europa semi-final between the clubs last term, can pick the hosts pockets on the counter.
Did you know
Basle overcame Israels Maccabi Tel Aviv and Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets Razgrad to qualify for the group stages.
Possible teams
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Oscar, Schurrle, Etoo.
FC Basle: Sommer, Degen, Ivanov, Schar, Xhaka, Elnery, Frei, Diaz, Stocker, Salah, Streller.
