Any of these three results will take Chelsea through to the round of 8 in the Champions league – a win, a 0-0 draw or a 1-1 draw. Anyone with little football knowledge should see that Chelsea should get atleast the worst of the these three possibilities at Stamford Bridge and go through. Simply put, a cleansheet would put us through. With Cech in such kind of form, a cleansheet is a regular outcome.

FC Porto are no pushovers. They threatened us so much in the first leg that they could have easily scored another and pushed for a win (we bombarded them in the last quarter hour, that’s another story!). While we were busy making a mess of Harry Redknapp’s 60th birthday, FC Porto has just beaten Braga 1-0 at home.

No John Terry. He is expected to be back only for the FA Cup match with Spurs on March 11. While Abou Diaper is out for 2-3 weeks for landig his boot on Terry’s face, you should see that JT is making a super-swift return. No great decision making required in the team selection nowadays. The only discussion point could be whether to play Ballack or not. Rest all, pick themselves. He does not have the pace to be a side midfielder and in the centre he does play a commanding role, atleast in Chelsea. Time and again, if the central midfielder keeps losing the ball, not only it nullifies our attacks and runs, it also exposes our make-shift defence. Anyway, I dont see Jose dropping Ballack in a Champions League match.

Drogba is among goals and Shev scored in the last champions league match. 4-4-2 would stay with these hitmen upfront. In the last match against Portsmouth, Sheva looked visibly frustrated that he was not supplied crosses by Drogba and Robben, which could have been sitters for him to score. While this is partially true, it surely matters how well he does when he is supplied. Chance after chance, if they find Sheva struggling, you cant blame them to go for it the next time. After all, they are all excellent scorers in their own right. May be, that’s what is causing the frustration. When excellent professionals work hard for the common goal, such tiny intra-match stuff does happen.

Bosingwa and Lucho Gonzalez are doubtful for this match the man who did the trick was Quaresma. Once again, Diarra would be given the tough challenge of containing Quaresma. It would be interesting to see what tactic Jose opts for this match. May be, he will not start with Robben and use him as an impact player in the second half. In any case, I expect us finish the game in the first half. To try to sit back and play defensively would be too dangerous. Chelsea would not do this but still progression to round of 8 is of top priority.

Among other news, Lampard says that “Adebayor didn’t punch me” while I can understand this statement as “Adebayor punched someone else” or “Someone else punched me”. Anyway, Whinger says the the linesman lied in the report, whereas the report is said to contain words that amount to Adebayor attempting to land a punch and ended being off-target there too. But still that does not stop him from demanding a ‘new and improved’ contract. FA has taken it strongly on Arsene calling them liars, but Whinger is sure about Adeb not punching and claims that he ‘ziz noz zee ze inzidenz’.

Barca travel to Anfield for what must be their season-defining match of the season. Having been beaten by Sevilla fair and square last weekend, only a Champions League progress can lift the spirit for the European Champs. It looks most certain that Eto’o is counting his Barca days. He looks so desparate to get out of Camp Nou that he calls someone ‘a good coach’ whom he used to curse liberally until months back. Believe me, Eto’o really said this:

England is a sensational country for football and any time I leave that will be my destination because the Premiership is fantastic for strikers Arsenal and Chelsea have caught my attention in the last few months, although there has been no definite contact. Jose Mourinho is a good coach and I believe he is a fan of mine. But for the moment I can think only of Barcelona and have demanded of Rijkaard that he plays me against Liverpool.

He is a great striker and I like his skill and game but he can’t continue this kind of behaviour (demanding to play after a 4 month lay-off!?) if he happens to join Chelsea. If he does, he will learn the hardest way, who the boss is. Anyway, he will not fit into our squad and we dont need him when we have Drog and Shev.

Obviously, Liverpool vs Barca is a bigger game under the circumstances, but luckily for me, Chelsea vs Porto would be broadcast live here. About the change of theme in the blog, I’m still tinkering with the theme modifying this and that. Pardon me, I’m still an amateur! Hopefully in a few days, I would have done the most optimal customisation.