Champions League Group F preview: Chelsea to hit back

Struggling Premier League champions Chelsea could get back on track when they host winless Champions League rivals MSK Zilina on Tuesday.

Chelsea have been in world-beating form in their four Group F fixtures to date, putting 12 goals past their European rivals while only conceding two in four straight victories.

Last time out they handed Spartak Moscow a 4-1 thumping at Stamford Bridge, but since then Carlo Ancelotti’s side have lost three of four league matches and suddenly look vulnerable.

Enter Zilina, the Slovakian champions who have lost four straight, scored just once and conceded a tournament-worst 15 goals.

The Group F whipping boys gave up an astonishing 7-0 loss to Marseille last time out, the first time a team has conceded seven goals at home in the Champions League.

That their only goal of the group stages came in a 4-1 loss to the visiting Chelsea should be of little consolation to Zilina, who could very well be the shot in the arm the Blues need.

Admittedly, much of Chelsea’s woes are down to a growing injury list, and Ancelotti will be unable to call on captain John Terry, Frank Lampard and Yossi Benayoun for the Zilina game.

Yuri Zhirkov is no certainty to play as he battles a calf problem, and Didier Drogba is only just over his crippling bout of malaria.

Nicolas Anelka firms as the danger man for Chelsea.

The France international has netted five goals in the competition but has failed to get on the scoresheet since Spartak.

Not that he is alone in that category – only Michael Essien has troubled the scorers in the weeks since.

Essien will be available to play against Zilina, despite serving a three-game suspension for a red card earned in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Fulham.

Chelsea require just a point against Zilina to be sure of finishing on top of Group F, and while Ancelotti is reeling from an uncharacteristically poor league run it seems Chelsea’s European ambitions remain on target.

Meanwhile, Marseille travel to Spartak in a match neither side can afford to lose.

The French champions occupy second spot on the group table with six points, ahead of Spartak only on goal difference, and Tuesday’s clash could decide the second qualifying spot behind Chelsea.

Marseille are the form side of the two, having recorded back-to-back victories in their last two matchdays, though both of those were against Zilina.

Spartak hold the bragging rights from their away leg at Marseille, having trumped the French champions 1-0.

Spartak boss Valery Karpin will be without Brazilian midfielder Alex and defender Sergei Parshivlyuk who are both sidelined through injury.

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps will be without the services of injured midfielder Benoit Cheyrou.