Chelsea vs Steaua Bucharest Preview, Team News, Likely Line-up & Predicted Score
Chelsea welcome Steaua Bucharest to Stamford Bridge on Thursday night looking to keep alive their hopes of lifting the Europa League this season.
The Blues will have to overturn a 1-0 deficit after tasting defeat in the first leg last week but Rafa Benitez has promised to name a strong side for the game as he aims to progress to the last 8.
Chelsea head into the game following Sunday’s superb comeback against Manchester United in the FA Cup last weekend. The Londoners trailed 2-0 at half-time but second half goals from Eden Hazard and Ramires earned a 2-2 draw and the two sides will now face a replay at the Bridge on April 1st.
While Chelsea will no doubt be eager to qualify for the next stage tonight, if they do it will just add more games to an already packed fixture list that could see them play four games in just 8 days.
Team News
Spanish striker Fernando Torres will come in for Demba Ba with the Senegalese hitman ineligible after playing for former club Newcastle in a previous round.
Captain John Terry is likely to return to the starting line-up while John Obi Mikel and Eden Hazard are also expected to return after their game-changing substitute appearance’s against United last time out.
Benitez has no fresh injury concerns meaning midfielder Oriol Romeu is the only player unavailable.
Steaua boss Laurentiu Reghecampf has been boosted by the return of Macedonian defender Daniel Georgievski who is likely to come in after making a comeback from injury during the weekend during a 4-3 win over Ceahlaul Piatra.
Stefan Nikolic is also pushing for a start after recovering from a knee injury.
Likely Chelsea line-up
Predicted Score
Steaua will arrive in the capital full of confidence after last weeks 1-0 win and will no doubt look to protect their lead, but I can see the Blues having too much for them to contend with at home and predict Chelsea to creep through to the quarter finals. Chelsea 2-0 Steaua
What would be your starting line-up and whats your score prediction for the game? Get involved in the comments section below.
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Hay zed
March 14, 2013 at 12:13 pm
I think chelsea shuold win up to 4 0 tonight
walex
March 14, 2013 at 12:24 pm
Chelsea will win 3:0 tonight
promise uche
March 14, 2013 at 12:35 pm
chelsea shud see beyond their victroy against man u and go ahead to win this match tonite. Benitex will likely be sack if he fails to progress to the next round of the competition
valentine
March 14, 2013 at 12:52 pm
I think that chelsea will win by 5 0
Solomon mandy uwadia
March 14, 2013 at 12:58 pm
Chelsea will win by 3-0
Hackervirus
March 14, 2013 at 1:00 pm
C’mon CFC
oludininwa david
March 14, 2013 at 1:05 pm
I believe chelsea will win tonit only if dey avoid conceeding forther goals frm dia opponent,gudluck!
omotunde
March 14, 2013 at 1:05 pm
chelsea win 4-0
chimez
March 14, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Leave Lampard out of this game, he was our problem in the 1st leg, he was our problem against man u in the fa cup. Let mikel and ramires man the midfield. Chelsea will win by 3.O.
Danjuma
March 14, 2013 at 2:53 pm
I prefer mikel and remires and chelsea will take the victory by 4-1
Albertz E.anthony
March 14, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Chelsea will win 3-0
emmanuel
March 14, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Ramires should start instead of lampard, but chelsea will still win. 3-1.
blueinlagos
March 14, 2013 at 1:49 pm
If Torres must play, Lampard must not. If Torres plays and Lampard plays, Chelsea will be short 2 and there will be only one result Chelsea OUT
Chukwu Raphael.E
March 14, 2013 at 1:50 pm
Wel i tink is gona be a tough cracker anyway,bt if only our gaffer would pls rest lampard,nd start mikel, ramires in d (Dmf), i tink we would win,bt in al i predict goal galores in favour our darling club chelsea tonight,DAME U BUCHAREST!!.
PRINCE KELVIN MBE
March 14, 2013 at 1:52 pm
CHELSEA WILL WIN 3~0
bigy
March 14, 2013 at 2:30 pm
why lampard again that bad luck……our best dm pairs are mikel and energy drink ramires,
up blues 6-0 hazard,tores,ramires,oscar,mata and luiz with freekick……chelsea 4 life.
Ibro
March 14, 2013 at 2:47 pm
Chelsea wil win 3 v0
albie
March 14, 2013 at 9:53 pm
3 – 1 to chealsea
kellz
March 14, 2013 at 2:50 pm
With how this f**kin “stew” Owner blast the whole chelsea in the last meeting, I think Chelsea should beat hell out of them this time around. If the above squad will be truly shown up tonight I think chelsea will surely Win…{ 6_0 }
Danjuma
March 14, 2013 at 3:00 pm
I think chelsea should give lampard a room to rest and aloud mikel and Remires to catch up together
Danjuma
March 14, 2013 at 3:05 pm
I think chelsea should give lampard a room to rest and aloud mikel remires to catch up together.chelsea v steaua bucharisti 4-1
meltus
March 14, 2013 at 3:31 pm
Let Lampard be replaced by Ramires.let them play like the second half of our last FA Cup match against Man U.we’ll win 4 v 0
babs
March 14, 2013 at 4:41 pm
We shd be careful cos we dont hv a striker
Ogaemmanuel
March 14, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Let us try lampard again bt chelsea will 3-0
collins lex
March 14, 2013 at 6:26 pm
I know chelsea will win dis match by God’s grace 4-0 in JESUS name, hazard 1, oscar 2, mata 1.
My starting XI is:
Cech
Cesar, cahill, Terry, cole
Ramires, mikel
Moses, Oscar, Hazard
Torres
Then second half put mata,Luiz,and lampard if necessary, but mata is important in the game,mata for moses,thanks
Hopzeekid
March 14, 2013 at 7:40 pm
Cech
cesar,cahill,terry,cole
ramires,mikel
oscar,mata,hazard
moses..chel win by 5goals to 1
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