Match Preview Chelsea vs Schalke

Chelsea open their Champions League campaign against familiar foes in Schalke. Both the sides have met twice in a space of three years.

Chelsea are on a roll in the league with four wins out of four courtesy their summer signings Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas. They are playing an exciting brand of football as the London club has amassed 15 goals in their four league games.

Schalke on the other hand have been very poor in the Bundesliga. Their spirited draw against champions Bayern Munich is their only highlight of the season. Injuries to their key squad members is one of the main reasons for their dismal start to the season.

Team News -

Chelsea will be hoping to rest their talismanic striker Diego Costa who is rumored to be carrying niggles for couple of weeks. This means club legend Didier Drogba will make his first appearance for the Blues, since the epic night in Munich. New boy Remy also has a chance to start along with Drogba. Along with him we can also hope to see Petr Cech for the first time this season after being displaced by Thibaut Courtois as the no1.

Meanwhile Schalke have problems of their own as they lost their captain Benedikt Howedes to a hip injury this weekend. This has substantially weakened the Ruhr club's defense as they have lost all their first choice defenders to injury. This means Schalke will have a young centre half pairing of Ayhan and Friedrich.

Probable Starting Lineups-

Chelsea : Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Fàbregas, Matic; Schürrle, Oscar, Hazard; Drogba.

Schalke : Fährmann; Höger, Ayhan, Friedrich, Aogo; Boateng, Neustädter, Sam, Meyer, Draxler; Huntelaar.

The Football Mind Prediction-
Schalke 0-3 Chelsea