Champions League semi-finalists Chelsea travel to the Liberty Stadium on Sunday to face a struggling Swansea side who are looking to avoid the drop to the Championship.
Date: Sunday, 13th April Venue: Liberty Stadium Kick-off: 16:07 GMT On TV: Sky Sports
Following their stunning, dramatic and emotional triumph against PSG on Tuesday evening, Chelsea go into their Premier League game with a Champions League semi-final tie with Athletico Madrid all planned out.
The performance on Tuesday epitomised the never-say-die attitude that Chelsea teams over the years have always seemed to find from somewhere, and it could also be a pivotal result in their late surge for the League title.
Chelsea’s league form has been sketchy of late, but the midweek result, judging by the players’ reactions at the final whistle, will surely act as a boost for so called ‘lesser’ games such as Sunday’s trip to Wales.
If Chelsea are to continue to mount any kind of title challenge, a victory in, ideally, all games are needed, starting on Sunday especially with fellow contenders Liverpool and Manchester City battling it out between them.
There will be no better opportunity to get a third win in a row than against a team such as Swansea, who have just one win in eight games.
However, coming towards to home straight of the season, the Swans will be desperate for some much needed points in front of their own fans.
Swansea City, under Garry Monk sit 6 points above the relegation zone in 15th place, and desperately need to pick up wins to ensure a third season in the top flight following a troubled campaign.
In the sides previous league games, Chelsea brushed Stoke City aside at Stamford Bridge, while Swansea fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Hull City.
When the sides last met, an Eden Hazard strike was enough to give Mourinho’s side the victory on Boxing day at Stamford Bridge. During their last meeting at the Liberty, a certain incident involving Hazard and a ball-boy overshadowed Chelsea’s elimination from the Capital One Cup.
However, Chelsea have never done the league double against the Swans, and are yet to register a win at the Liberty Stadium.
Despite recent triumphs, Chelsea’s league form still looks worrying, having lost their last 2 away games, following a spell of losing just one game in 17 beforehand.
However Chelsea are still in the title race according to most, despite the table being a ‘lie’ in Mourinho’s side, as the Blues sit just 2 points adrift of Liverpool at the top.
David Luiz, ever the optimist, summed this up whilst talking to ChelseaTV earlier this week:
“It’s still possible to win the league, so come on, let’s enjoy the position we are in and believe, like we did against Paris Saint-Germain.”
The Blues will be boosted by the return of Samuel Eto’o to the Chelsea side, as well as Demba Ba scoring the goal that sent Chelsea to the Champions League semi-finals, which will surely send his confidence rocketing.
The likely choice will be Ba, with Torres misfiring and Eto’o still not 100% fit following an injury sustained against Arsenal.
Two clean sheets in a week points towards a certainly unchanged Chelsea backline (depending on the injury to John Terry), while Nemanja Matic is once again available to play infront of the defence alongside a partner.
David Luiz seems a likely choice to partner the Serb after a brave and passionate display from the Brazilian in midweek.
A downside (if that’s possible) to midweeks incredible victory was the injury sustained by Eden Hazard; after the Belgian limped off and is almost a certain absentee for Sunday’s away trip.
His replacement on Tuesday, Andre Schurrle, has been in great goalscoring form when playing recently.
In addition, Mohamad Salah scored on his first start for the club last weekend, (his second goal) and may have earned himself a start in the process.
As mentioned, another slight concern is Chelsea captain John Terry after the centre-back picked up a slight foot injury during Tuesday’s victory, however he is not a confirmed absentee.
Despite injury troubles, Swansea manager Garry Monk played down his sides chances of all three points on Sunday:
“When you look at it (on paper), we don’t have a chance. (However) it’s something we embrace and it’s a chance to showcase what we can do.”
His side have no fresh injury worries, with Dwight Tiendalli’s illness continuing, he is the only confirmed absentee for the Welsh side.
The peculiar kick-off time of 16:07 is due to the FA’s Hillsborough tribute, meaning the game will get underway seven minutes later than it normally would do.
Chelsea fans will surely go into this one with three points in their minds as an almost certainty, however Swansea fans may feel they can cause an upset, with some much needed points up for grabs to avoid relegation and Chelsea’s dwindling away form.
Swansea City vs Chelsea: Pre-match facts
- Chelsea have won 11 and drawn one of their last 12 Premier League games played on a Sunday and have won their last nine in a row.
- Chelsea have won three and lost none of their five previous Barclays Premier League meetings with Swansea
- Chelsea have conceded first in half of their last 16 trips to bottom-half teams
- Jose Mourinho has never suffered three successive Premier League away defeats within a single season
- Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in their last 3 matches against Swansea in all competitions
Source: Opta
Predicted lineup:
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Luiz; Salah, Schurrle, Willian; Ba
Prediction: Swansea City 0-2 Chelsea
