14.03. (Wed) 20:45 Chelsea - Napoli

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA CechIvanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole Ramires, Essien, Lampard Mata, Torres, Sturridge

NAPOLI De SanctisCampagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica Maggio, Gargano, Inler, ZunigaHamsik, Lavezzi Cavani

Roberto Di Matteo has yet to settle on a first choice XI after his first two matches in charge and has spoken of the use of squad rotation.

Juan Mata, Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge and Michael Essien did not start against Stoke last Saturday and could move into the starting line-up. John Terry and Ashley Cole recently returned from injury, while Jose Bosingwa is out with a hamstring problem. Raul Meireles is suspended.

Napoli have fielded a settled team throughout this season’s Champions League campaign, with a back three of Hugo Campagnaro, Paolo Cannavaro and Salvatore Aronica behind the central midfield duo of Gokhan Inler and Walter Gargano.

Juan Camilo Zuniga may start ahead of Andrea Dossena at left wing-back, while Christian Maggio is likely to feature on the right. Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi will start alongside Edinson Cavani in attack.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Roberto Di Matteo takes charge of just his third match as Chelsea manager against Napoli after Andre Villas-Boas' dismissal.

• The Italian won his first two matches in charge with 2-0 victory against Birmingham in the FA Cup and a 1-0 win over Stoke last weekend.

• Chelsea are in the last 16 for the ninth season in succession but have won just three of their seven Champions League matches this season, despite taking the lead in all seven games.

• The Blues have drawn Italian opposition in two of the last three seasons at this stage, beating Juventus 3-2 on aggregate in 2008-09 but losing 3-1 to Inter in 2009-10, when the Nerazzurri were coached by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

• The Blues took the lead against Napoli in the first leg of the tie at the San Paolo through Juan Mata, but were beaten 3-1 after two goals from Ezequiel Lavezzi and one from Edinson Cavani sealed a comeback victory.

• The Partenopei are in good recent form, winning their last six matches in all competitions, scoring 17 goals in the process, and winning 6-3against Cagliari on Friday.

• The side have cultivated a fearsome reputation for counter-attacking football, and top scorer Cavani has registered six goals in his last seven games for club and country, with 16 in Serie A and five in the Champions League so far this season.

Prediction

Chelsea seem to have improved morale under Roberto Di Matteo but will face a Napoli side in superb form.
The Blues must attack to overturn the deficit but they will therefore expose themselves to the fearsome counter-attack of the Partenopei and could be out-gunned at Stamford Bridge. I fear a loss for the home side near, on the night and on aggregate.

Editor's Prediction

Chelsea 1-2 Napoli

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14.03. (Wed) 20:45 Real - CSKA Moskva

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID Casillas Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo Khedira, AlonsoOzil, Kaka, Ronaldo Benzema

CSKA MOSCOW Chepchugov A Bere'ski, V Bere'ski, Igna'vich, Schennikov Wernbloom, MamaevDzagoev, Honda, Musa Doumbia

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema could get the nod in attack for Wednesday's crunch Champions League last-16 decider against CSKA Moscow, after overcoming a groin problem and appearing as a late substitute in the win over Real Betis during the weekend.

Portuguese full-back Fabio Coentrao (groin) is unlikely to be fit in time for the clash, while Angel Di Maria (thigh) is still sidelined.

CSKA have been handed a boost with the return to fitness of playmaker Keisuke Honda, who overcame a thigh injury to start Friday's 1-1 draw against Dinamo Moscow.

Pavel Mamaev and Kirill Nababkin are both available again after serving one-match suspensions, while long-term absentees Igor Akinfeev and Mark Gonzalez remain sidelined.

The Russian side need to score to have any chance of progressing, as Cristiano Ronaldo's strike in the first leg in Moscow gives the Spaniards the advantage on the away goals rule.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Real Madrid have won 30 of their last 34 games in all competitions, finding the net in every match during that sequence.

• Los Blancos have lost just one of the nine home fixtures against Russian opponents, going down 3-1 to Spartak Moscow in the 1990-91 European Cup quarter-final.

• Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured right) has netted nine times in his last six appearances for Madrid.

• CSKA Moscow have lost just one of their last 12 away matches in all competitions, winning three and drawing eight.

• The Russian side are unbeaten against Spanish opposition in six outings (W3, D3).

• Should CSKA win against Madrid, it would represent their 50th victory in Uefa club competitions.

Prediction

Pontus Wernbloom's late leveller in Moscow gives CSKA hope, but Real Madrid were by far the better side in the first leg, and their scintillating form this season suggests they should have little trouble dispatching the Russian side at the Bernabeu.

Editor's Prediction

Real Madrid 3-0 CSKA Moscow

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