FC Basel v Chelsea - EL Semi Final 1st Leg - k/o 8:05pm - 3e

GavRedKing

Given Chelseas rather indiffernet away record this season this will be a tricky game to say the least.

Chelsea are boosted by the trurn of Cole and Cahill and Oscar could also play some part this evening.

If we can nick an away goal or two it will make or task a lot easier in the long run.

Basel 1 - 1 Chelsea

Chelsea team :

Cech
Azp JT Luiz Bertrand
Lamps Ramires
Moses Yossi Hazard
Torres

Crann na Beatha

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Johner

Score draw would be a very good result.

GavRedKing

I reckon a draw is on the cards, I'd love if we could take a win into the Stamford Bridge game but with our away record its highly unlikely.

Amirani

Murat Yakin (Basel Manager): "I hope Ivanovic won't be suffering from rabies when he comes over to Basel," Yakin joked. "Will we also use Dracula tactics on Chelsea?

"We have the necessary bite to do so - but I would prefer it if the match doesn't end up resembling a game of Pac-Man." :pac:

GavRedKing

Now that's just trolling :pac:

citytillidie

Just a heads up game is also on UTV if you can get it, better the 3e

GavRedKing

Thank christ, 3e has the worse coverage/pic combination in the world.

I'm going out for anyway, going to grab a bit of grub and watch it.

Crann na Beatha

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DazMarz

Only thing is that Basel are no longer a surprise package. They've left some pretty big corpses in their wake over the past few years, so it is unlikely they'll be underestimated.

Also this is a semi-final of a European trophy, and you don't get to a semi-final of anything like this with luck or with a smile. The 4 teams left in this a pretty formidable and nothing should be taken for granted.

Once Chelsea get an away goal or two to take back to the Bridge, I'll be happy enough. A score-draw would be good, win would be even better, but from looking at it, I'd definitely take the score-draw to take back to the Bridge!

peteeeed

Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:

1 Petr Cech
28 Cesar Azpilicueta
26 John Terry (c)
2 Branislav Ivanovic
3 Ashley Cole
4 David Luiz
8 Frank Lampard
7 Ramires
17 Eden Hazard
13 Victor Moses
9 Fernando Torres

Panthro

Luiz in DM?
I'm on board!

peteeeed

I'm excited by that line up

Johner

Mata makes us tick. Would be happier with him in the side.

Duck Soup

Oscar and Mata on the bench presumably. No injuries there?

Duck Soup

I'm thinking Lamps wil score tonight, although possibly a 2-1 to Basel final score, which I'd take as not unsurmountable in the return leg.

Panthro

So....Yahoo Sport's version of the lineup anyone?!

---

Petr Cech

---

Azpilicueta--Terry (c)--Ivanovic--Cole

---

Ramires

---

Lampard

---

----Hazard

---

Luiz

---

Moses

---

Torres

---

Andersonisgod

Ramires on the wing? We've seen this before, it doesn't work.

Duck Soup

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Ramires on the wing? We've seen this before, it doesn't work.

Ramires through the centre surely? Lamps spraying long diagonals out to Moses and Hazard or give the ball to Ramires to pelt hell-for-leather towards goal up the middle.

RichT

Panthro wrote: »

So....Yahoo Sport's version of the lineup anyone?!

---

Petr Cech

---

Azpilicueta--Terry (c)--Ivanovic--Cole

---

Ramires

---

Lampard

---

----Hazard

---

Luiz

---

Moses

---

Torres

---

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Ramires on the wing? We've seen this before, it doesn't work.

Looks more central than a central thing to me...

Andersonisgod

Duck Soup wrote: »

Ramires through the centre surely? Lamps spraying long diagonals out to Moses and Hazard or give the ball to Ramires to pelt hell-for-leather towards goal up the middle.

If Ramires is through the centre then Lampard is at number 10 (never a good thing under any circumstances) or Luiz makes his number 10 debut tonight.

RichT

Oh....... didn't notice Luiz in front of him

Masked Man

Rami is on the right, Luiz DM, and Hazard is behind Torres. It's how they trained last night.

Amirani

Andersonisgod wrote: »

If Ramires is through the centre then Lampard is at number 10 (never a good thing under any circumstances) or Luiz makes his number 10 debut tonight.

I reckon it's 4-3-3 rather than 4-2-3-1. No traditional 10 in their lineup.

Crann na Beatha

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peteeeed

IT'S ANARCHY. People playing here there everywhere

Barr

Though game expected - a draw would do nicely.

Panthro

So Yahoo are correct, Luiz plays more advanced?!
Interesting!

RichT

ITV have Rami on the right in their graphic......

Hope it's wrong.

Barr

Great to see Cole back - will be interesting to see the team without Mata pulling the strings.

Nuri Sahin

Looking forward to seeing Sommer play again and Salah for the first time properly. Should be a good game this.

Barr

Nice from Lamps

Barr

Get in !

Lovely Bloke

Goal!

Ivanovic needs to get bitten more often!!

weiland79

Get in Ivan

Lovely Bloke

Was Moses!!

DazMarz

Great start. Think it was Moses too. But how and ever! 0-1 is crucial. Got the away goal. Get in!

Kirby

Defender on the post was shocking. Was it their fullback? Just stand up straight and clear it. He almost ducked out of the way. Awful.

Lukker-

What formation are Chelsea playing?

Kirby

Lukker- wrote: »

What formation are Chelsea playing?

Most people thought it was 4-2-3-1 with ramires on the wing but its not. It's more of a 4-3-3 with Lampard, Luiz and Ramires in the middle. Moses and Hazard keep roaming off their wings. It's very fluid looking. Impressive tbh.

Barr

Great save from Chech

Lukker-

I expect Ramires will be making plenty of runs tonight. 4-3-3 when he's playing centrally and have someone behind them suits himself and Lampard far better then the double pivot.

Barr

Lampards range of passing has been unreal this season - a great asset to his game.

Psychedelic

Why is Torres still wearing that ridiculous face mask?

Kirby

Psychedelic wrote: »

Why is Torres still wearing that ridiculous face mask?

He said he will probably wear it for the rest of the season. His scans haven't shown total healing yet. He would prefer not to apparently, he says its very uncomfortable.

Panthro

Psychedelic wrote: »

Why is Torres still wearing that ridiculous face mask?

Because all good Superheros wear a mask, except for Superman.

Barr

Psychedelic wrote: »

Why is Torres still wearing that ridiculous face mask?

Cause he look cool

Lovely Bloke

Everytime Luiz get posession with his back to goal, he is sticking his arse into his marker.

Psychedelic

Kirby wrote: »

He said he will probably wear it for the rest of the season. His scans haven't shown total healing yet. He would prefer not to apparently, he says its very uncomfortable.

Oh right, I thought he was fully healed but was just still wearing it anyway.

Lovely Bloke

Great goalkeeping, but it was never a free kick ffs.

Kirby

Hazard is some player. He should have done more this season. Bags of ability.