Monday, September 14, 2009

Chelsea v FC Porto

Chelsea    v    FC Porto

    Champions League
    Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Tuesday 15 Sept Kick-off: 1945 BST Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live and live on Sky Sports Xtra

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    Ancelotti aims for Champions League final

    Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has set a target of making the Champions League final this season.

    They begin their campaign against Porto without Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa, suspended for their actions in May's semi-final exit to Barcelona.

    "The first objective is to arrive at the final," said new coach Ancelotti, who won the Champions League twice as manager of Italian side AC Milan.

    "It will not be easy but I think we have the possibility to do this."

    Striker Drogba is banned for three games after his offensive comments towards the referee in the aftermath of Chelsea's exit at Stamford Bridge.

    Defender Bosingwa will miss two games for his part, while fellow ex-Porto stars Deco (calf) and Paulo Ferreira (knee) are out injured.

    Joe Cole, Yuri Zhirkov (both knee) and Alex (groin) are also out and Ancelotti said he would draft in youngsters Sam Hutchinson, Jeffrey Bruma and striker Fabio Borini.

    None of the trio are likely to start, however, with Salomon Kalou set to take Drogba's place alongside Nicolas Anelka and Branislav Ivanovic lining up at right-back.

    Porto have three wins and a draw from four league games this season, with four goals from new striker Radamel Falcao Garcia.

    PHIL MCNULTY BLOG

    The Colombia international has made a strong start after signing from River Plate to fill the gap left by Argentina striker Lisandro Lopez in the summer.

    But Porto will come up against a Chelsea side who are determined to make amends for last season's controversial exit, when they were knocked out by Andres Iniesta's late goal after referee Tom Henning Ovrebo had turned down several penalty appeals.

    The Champions League crown is the one piece of silverware missing since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich took over the club in 2003.

    They have made the semi-final in five of the last six years and in 2007 they lost in a penalty shoot-out to Manchester United in Abramovich's home city of Moscow.

    "It's not easy to win the Champions League, it's important to be a bit lucky," said Ancelotti, who also won the European cup twice as a player with Milan.

    "I don't think there is a psychological problem. Chelsea have arrived very close and will do so again. I think there is a real possibility to do well this season."

    Chelsea could line up against a familiar face in Uruguay defender Jesualdo Ferreira, who faced the Blues last season while with Romanian club Cluj.

    Chelsea (from): Cech, Turnbull, Hilario, Belletti, A Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Ivanovic, Lampard, Mikel, Ballack, Malouda, Kalou, Sturridge, Hutchinson, Borini, Bruma, Anelka, Essien.

    о 7:47 AM

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