Chelsea, Roma battle for control of group in Champions League clash
Chelsea will try to become one of the first teams to qualify for the knockout phase of the Champions League when they visit Roma in a Group C game on Tuesday.
A win would be enough for Chelsea, the champions in 2011-12, to advance to the round of 16 for the 13th time in their last 14 appearances in the competition. Eight other teams could move on to the knockout phase on Tuesday, depending on outcomes.
The Soccer Power Index (SPI) gives Chelsea a 90 percent chance to advance from the group stage, while Roma have a 78 percent chance to do so. Atletico Madrid have a 32 percent chance to reach the round of 16 and Qarabag's chance stands at less than 1 percent.
The teams drew 3-3 in London on Oct. 18, with Eden Hazard's brace and a goal by David Luiz equalling two goals from Roma's Edin Dzeko and one from Aleksandar Kolarov. It marked the first time that a team coached by Antonio Conte conceded three goals in a Champions League game.
Neither Chelsea nor Roma have fared well recently against opponents from each other's countries. Chelsea have failed to win their last five away games against Italian clubs in the Champions League, losing four of them, and have conceded at least two goals on each occasion.
Roma, meanwhile, have three victories and five draws in their previous 17 games against English opposition in the Champions League. The last time they hosted a Premier League team in the competition was on Dec. 10, 2014 -- a 2-0 group-stage loss to Manchester City.
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas would make his 100th Champions League appearance if he were selected by Conte on Tuesday.
For Roma, another goal by Dzeko would mean he has scored in three appearances in the competition for the first time since 2009-10, when he was at Wolfsburg.
A win would be enough for Chelsea, the champions in 2011-12, to advance to the round of 16 for the 13th time in their last 14 appearances in the competition. Eight other teams could move on to the knockout phase on Tuesday, depending on outcomes.
The Soccer Power Index (SPI) gives Chelsea a 90 percent chance to advance from the group stage, while Roma have a 78 percent chance to do so. Atletico Madrid have a 32 percent chance to reach the round of 16 and Qarabag's chance stands at less than 1 percent.
The teams drew 3-3 in London on Oct. 18, with Eden Hazard's brace and a goal by David Luiz equalling two goals from Roma's Edin Dzeko and one from Aleksandar Kolarov. It marked the first time that a team coached by Antonio Conte conceded three goals in a Champions League game.
Neither Chelsea nor Roma have fared well recently against opponents from each other's countries. Chelsea have failed to win their last five away games against Italian clubs in the Champions League, losing four of them, and have conceded at least two goals on each occasion.
Roma, meanwhile, have three victories and five draws in their previous 17 games against English opposition in the Champions League. The last time they hosted a Premier League team in the competition was on Dec. 10, 2014 -- a 2-0 group-stage loss to Manchester City.
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas would make his 100th Champions League appearance if he were selected by Conte on Tuesday.
For Roma, another goal by Dzeko would mean he has scored in three appearances in the competition for the first time since 2009-10, when he was at Wolfsburg.
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