Chelsea is set to host Galatasaray in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match up. The first leg finished in a 1-1 draw, and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said the game will go down to the wire.
If you look at the result 1-1 and if you look at the game, one team was better in the first half, another was better in the second, Mourinho said, via UEFA. It’s the kind of match that could go to the wire. I very much doubt the game will be decided by half-time.
Drogba is one of the most important players in Chelsea’s history,” Mourinho said. “There is no doubt about that and it’s something all Chelsea supporters would agree on. Is he at the same level as he was at 26? Nobody is, but he is one of the best strikers in the world. Tomorrow is a big game but I am not feeling any pressure. Sneijder is one of the best in his position in the world. It is as simple as that.
When: Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. ET
Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. GMT
Where: Stamford Bridge, London, England
Watch: Fox Sports 1; Fox Soccer 2Go; ITV 1 (U.K.); ITV Live Player (U.K.)
While Tuesday's other Champions League match, Real Madrid facing Schalke, is decided at this point Los Blancos won the first leg, 6-1 it's all up in the air between Chelsea and Galatasaray.
The teams played to a 1-1 draw in Turkey, as Fernando Torres scored in the ninth minute but Aurelien Chedjou equalized for Galatasaray in the 64th. While the main storyline for the first game was Didier Drogba facing his old club, in this contest, the main concern is which team will survive.
Chelsea certainly enjoy one major advantage in this one they've lost just one game at home in all competitions this season, to Basel in the Champions League group stage. And they don't even need to win this game, as a scoreless draw would see them through since they would hold the advantage in away goals.
But Chelsea also lost over the weekend to Aston Villa, a crucial loss that once again left barely any separation between the Premier League's top four teams. Will that loss, and a grueling domestic campaign in general, weigh heavily on the minds of the Blues? Or will they recover from that disappointment by disposing of visiting Galatasaray?
Drogba's return to Stamford Bridge will certainly be a bit emotional for the player (and likely the Chelsea supporters, as well). After all, Drogba made himself a legend with the club. He talked to Dirk Vermeiren of UEFA.com about his feelings when he heard Galatasaray would face Chelsea in the round of 16 and he would return to his old stadium.
Chelsea will likely be without Ashley Cole for the match as he didn't train on Monday, according to Sky Sports, but David Luiz could return, giving the Blues a boost either in defense or perhaps in central midfield. Nemanja Matic certainly looked like he could have used a breather late in the match against Aston Villa after dominating the first half.
Still, the Blues are the heavy favorites here. They are the more talented side, are nearly impossible to beat at home, face a Galatasaray team that has really struggled away from home this year and, of course, have the ultimate puppeteer in Jose Mourinho leading the way.
Meanwhile, Galatasaray manager Roberto Mancini is out to prove he can succeed in the Champions League. From Steve Douglas of The Associated Press, via the Miami Herald:
A 1-1 draw at home for Galatasaray was essentially a loss, since Chelsea now need only to hold them scoreless to win this match. Chelsea are the best defensive team in the Premier League and are at their best when they can either control possession and build up play slowly, or sink back defensively and spring against teams hard on the counter-attack.
Galatasaray doesn't have the luxury of caution in this contest, needing to either win, earn a 1-1 draw to force extra time or a 2-2 draw to go ahead on away goals. That plays directly into Mourinho's hands, as he'll probably play a defensively sound starting 11 and tell his team to look for offense by springing players like Eden Hazard on the counter-attack.
Drogba may yet have some Champions League magic in him, and the Blues certainly don't have a forward that can grab this game by the scruff of the neck like Drogba can. But in Hazard, Oscar and Willian, they do have attacking midfielders who can change the course of a game if given any daylight at all to operate in.
Gala needed to win in Turkey. Failing to do so will be their downfall. Chelsea wins, 1-0.
source: fansided.com/2014/03/18/chelsea-vs-galatasaray-live-stream-start-time-tv-info/
source: bleacherreport.com/articles/1996038-chelsea-vs-galatasaray-date-time-live-stream-tv-info-and-preview
If you look at the result 1-1 and if you look at the game, one team was better in the first half, another was better in the second, Mourinho said, via UEFA. It’s the kind of match that could go to the wire. I very much doubt the game will be decided by half-time.
Drogba is one of the most important players in Chelsea’s history,” Mourinho said. “There is no doubt about that and it’s something all Chelsea supporters would agree on. Is he at the same level as he was at 26? Nobody is, but he is one of the best strikers in the world. Tomorrow is a big game but I am not feeling any pressure. Sneijder is one of the best in his position in the world. It is as simple as that.
When: Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. ET
Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. GMT
Where: Stamford Bridge, London, England
Watch: Fox Sports 1; Fox Soccer 2Go; ITV 1 (U.K.); ITV Live Player (U.K.)
While Tuesday's other Champions League match, Real Madrid facing Schalke, is decided at this point Los Blancos won the first leg, 6-1 it's all up in the air between Chelsea and Galatasaray.
The teams played to a 1-1 draw in Turkey, as Fernando Torres scored in the ninth minute but Aurelien Chedjou equalized for Galatasaray in the 64th. While the main storyline for the first game was Didier Drogba facing his old club, in this contest, the main concern is which team will survive.
Chelsea certainly enjoy one major advantage in this one they've lost just one game at home in all competitions this season, to Basel in the Champions League group stage. And they don't even need to win this game, as a scoreless draw would see them through since they would hold the advantage in away goals.
But Chelsea also lost over the weekend to Aston Villa, a crucial loss that once again left barely any separation between the Premier League's top four teams. Will that loss, and a grueling domestic campaign in general, weigh heavily on the minds of the Blues? Or will they recover from that disappointment by disposing of visiting Galatasaray?
Drogba's return to Stamford Bridge will certainly be a bit emotional for the player (and likely the Chelsea supporters, as well). After all, Drogba made himself a legend with the club. He talked to Dirk Vermeiren of UEFA.com about his feelings when he heard Galatasaray would face Chelsea in the round of 16 and he would return to his old stadium.
Chelsea will likely be without Ashley Cole for the match as he didn't train on Monday, according to Sky Sports, but David Luiz could return, giving the Blues a boost either in defense or perhaps in central midfield. Nemanja Matic certainly looked like he could have used a breather late in the match against Aston Villa after dominating the first half.
Still, the Blues are the heavy favorites here. They are the more talented side, are nearly impossible to beat at home, face a Galatasaray team that has really struggled away from home this year and, of course, have the ultimate puppeteer in Jose Mourinho leading the way.
Meanwhile, Galatasaray manager Roberto Mancini is out to prove he can succeed in the Champions League. From Steve Douglas of The Associated Press, via the Miami Herald:
A 1-1 draw at home for Galatasaray was essentially a loss, since Chelsea now need only to hold them scoreless to win this match. Chelsea are the best defensive team in the Premier League and are at their best when they can either control possession and build up play slowly, or sink back defensively and spring against teams hard on the counter-attack.
Galatasaray doesn't have the luxury of caution in this contest, needing to either win, earn a 1-1 draw to force extra time or a 2-2 draw to go ahead on away goals. That plays directly into Mourinho's hands, as he'll probably play a defensively sound starting 11 and tell his team to look for offense by springing players like Eden Hazard on the counter-attack.
Drogba may yet have some Champions League magic in him, and the Blues certainly don't have a forward that can grab this game by the scruff of the neck like Drogba can. But in Hazard, Oscar and Willian, they do have attacking midfielders who can change the course of a game if given any daylight at all to operate in.
Gala needed to win in Turkey. Failing to do so will be their downfall. Chelsea wins, 1-0.
source: fansided.com/2014/03/18/chelsea-vs-galatasaray-live-stream-start-time-tv-info/
source: bleacherreport.com/articles/1996038-chelsea-vs-galatasaray-date-time-live-stream-tv-info-and-preview
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