Portuguese coach, Jose Mourinho will be reuniting with most of the footballers he turned into world class players during his reign at Stamford Bridge as he will be returning to the stadium when Chelsea hosts Inter Milan in the make or mar cracker which will decide who amongst the two sides make it to the last eight. The likes of Nigerian born Mikel Obi, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, John Terry will be involved in what could be termed an 'emotional game'.
Basking In Hope And Expectation
At the start of the season Chelsea were one of the favourites for the Champions League trophy, and indeed they have looked good in Europe this campaign, although suspicions persist as to whether they were truly tested in the group stages. Therefore, Inter were their first main test in Europe's premier club competition and they did expressed their calibre and quality a fortnight ago.
Inter might have won the first leg of their Round of 16 tie 2-1 in Milan, but Chelsea weren't particularly bad and do have a valuable away goal, which Carlo Ancelotti and the rest of the Chelsea unit will be quick to point out as a potentially crucial factor in how the two sides approach the game on Tuesday evening. Chelsea know that they have to score to progress, while a draw will be good enough for the Nerazzurri.
The Premier League side have failed to make it to the semi-finals only once in the past six years and reached the final in 2008. Last season the Blues were knocked out in the semis by Barcelona on the away goals rule. Chelsea are going strong in the Premier League this campaign too, as they are currently second in the table, two points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand.
The Last 16 Curse
Inter have not gone past the Round of 16 in the Champions League for the past three seasons and in each of the last two campaigns they have fallen to English opposition. Last season they went out 2-0 on aggregate to Manchester United as a 0-0 scoreline at home was followed by a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford. In 2007-2008 it was Liverpool who knocked them out.
But this time Inter do have a genuine chance of progressing in Europe's top tier club competition. They might have conceded an away goal, but they have a one-goal advantage going to Stamford Bridge. If the Italian champions of the last four seasons can strengthen their backline and soak up pressure playing in a traditional Italian style, then they will be confident of getting a 0-0 draw and going through.
Jose Mourinho never lost a league game at the Bridge when he was the coach of Chelsea, losing only once there in all competitions, and this will be his first return to his old stomping ground since leaving the Blues in 2007. He has proclaimed his affection for Chelsea but will certainly be looking to knock out his former club.
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea
Yuri Zhirkov and Deco should both be available after having recovered from their respective injuries. Jose Bosingwa, Ashley Cole and Michael Essien are long-term injury casualties, while Ricardo Carvalho is out with a hamstring injury. Both Petr Cech and Henrique Hilario are suffering from injuries, meaning that Ross Turnbull could be given a start.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Turnbull, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Zhirkov; Malouda, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Kalou; Drogba
Inter
Cristian Chivu is out with injury but Marco Materazzi is back. Davide Santon was not part of the Inter squad that lost to Catania on Friday and doubts persist on whether he will be taken to London. Mario Balotelli, who has struggled with injuries in recent times, is reportedly out of the squad for Tuesday's game.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Zanetti; Cambiasso, Mariga, Stankovic; Sneijder; Eto'o, Milito
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
The Ivorian international striker has been in excellent form so far this season and has 21 goals and six assists in 24 Premier League games, with three goals in the Champions League. He wasn't perhaps very prominent in the first leg against Inter at San Siro but Drogba will certainly be a huge threat at Stamford Bridge. Inter's otherwise strong defensive unit exhibited cracks on Friday night when they conceded three goals in Catania and the Drog, placed sixth in the Castrol Rankings, will be eager to take advantage of any defensive slip-up on Tuesday evening.
Diego Milito (Inter)
The much under-rated Argentine international striker scored in the first leg in Milan and made England international central defender John Terry look average. Milito has scored 16 goals and given three assists in 26 matches in Serie A and has struck twice in the Champions League. The 30-year-old has not accomplished much in Europe and as such he will be keen to light up the continent. Milito's attacking instincts, shooting accuracy and ability to hold the ball up and bring his team-mates into play will be an important feature for Inter against a confident Chelsea side.
Anichebe, Yakubu Score For Everton As
Ajilore Grab Brace in Gronoiningen Win
AUSTRIA
Rabiu Afolabi (Salzburg): Nigeria defender Rabiu Afolabi continue to steer his club to the path of triumph as he was in action for 90 minutes again when they defeated Kapfenberg in their Austrian Premier League clash last weekend. The former Sochaux central defender who is hoping for a Super Eagles recall, to fight for a place in the World Cup squad, has made 17 league starts and scored twice this season as his club consolidated on their lead at the top of the table.
ENGLAND
Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Victor Anichebe (Eveton): The duo of Yakubu and Anichebe were in scoring form for Everton on Saturday as they netted one each in their 2-2 draw against Birmingham at Saint Andrews. Young Anichebe who is fast regaining his form after a long term injury lay off put the Toffees ahead barely after 15 minutes - his first goal of the season - firing a left-footed pile-driver after swivelling to past Liam Ridgewell. Moyes has been deploying the Beijing Olympic silver medallist on the right side of the club's midifield where he has shown brave performances with his great physical ability and pace to trouble opposing defenders. Anichebe however suffered an ankle injury and was replaced by Dan Gosling with barely a quarter of an hour left to play in the encounter.
Anichebe's senior compatriot Yakubu who had a below par performance in the encounter scored his own strike three minutes after Anichebe's opener to stretch the lead for Everton. The former Portsmouth and Middlesbrough forward headed in a well-crafted cross from South African star, Steven Pienaar to register his fourth strike in all competitions for the Merseyside outfit this season. In a show involving two Nigerian strikers from the start, Anichebe showed more promises and the young man could be in-line for a return to the Eagles for the World Cup in South Africa after featuring in the qualifiers before he was sidelined by a broken leg.
The other Nigerian in the Everton squad, Joseph Yobo continued to suffer a torrid time on the bench.
Mikel Obi (Chelsea): If there is any good thing happening in the Chelsea midfield at the moment, it is certainly the industrious performance of their Nigeria midfielder Mikel who has been a key figure in the absence of powerhouse Michael Essien. The Blues have shown sloppy form in recent weeks with defeat against Everton, Manchester City and Inter Milan but the Super Eagles midfielder has shouldered huge responsibilities while the duo of Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard are battling to live up to expectation.
Mikel's mobility, passing ability and more importantly his tireless defensive performances has been great as he helped his London club to a 4-1 win over city rivals West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Besides his crucial tackles that broke up the Hammers' offensive play, the former Lyn Oslo star played a delightful part in the move that led to Chelsea's last goal of the encounter. After moving the ball around the centre circle looking for passing options, Mikel threaded a cheeky pass to Lampard who took a few steps into the opponents' area to unleash a powerful shot that goalkeeper Robert Greening could only parry into the path of Didier Drogba. The big Ivorian striker netted from the rebound to increase his season's tally to 27 in all competitions.
GERMANY
Obafemi Martins (VFL Wolsburg): Martins was rewarded with his first Bundesliga start of the year but he failed to score despite his club, Wolfsburg enjoying a 4-0 win on their trip to Borrusia Monchegladbach last weekend. The Eagles striker who was on target the previous week in the 4-1 win over VFL Bochum played for 63 minutes last Saturday but it was subtitute Wolves' leading striker, Edin Dzeko who grabbed a brace - one from the penalty spot - to lead the German champions to another impressive win away from their Volkswagen arena home ground. Martins who has scored six times for Wolfsburg this season was replaced by Ashkan Dejagah just after the hour mark.
FRANCE
Onyekachi Apam (Nice): Eagles defender Apam was expectedly in action for all 90 minutes but his club, Nice suffered a 1-0 defeat at Le Mans in their French Ligue 1 encounter. Apam, who has started all the 18 league games he has featured for his club in the ongoing campaign, even made a clearance off the goal line from a Vaclav Sverkos effort.
Lukman Haruna (Monaco): Haruna was on from the start as his club, Monaco were held to a goalless draw at home by French champions Bordeaux in their Ligue 1 encounter. The former Flying eagles star was booked in the 62nd minute before being replaced by Coutadeaur 16 minutes before the end of the game.
Oubayo Adefemi (Bolougne): It is not the best of times for Adefemi as he was again not involved in his club's 3-1 away win at Nancy, their biggest win this season, as they continued their battle to survive relegation.
HOLLAND
Femi Ajilore (Gronoiningen): Ajilore was the Eagles star of the week as he netted a brace to lead Groningen to a 3-0 away win at NAC Breda.
He has started 16 games and made three sub appearances for the team.
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