Champions League: Why Chelsea CAN still qualify...

Chelsea may yet get their name into the knockout draw

Christian Crowther finds four reasons to believe that Chelsea will defy all the gloom by progressing from Champions League Group E...

The odds are far from favourable on an out-of-sorts Chelsea rescuing their European campaign after suffering a bruising defeat to Juventus on matchday five. However, backing the Blues at 3.65n/a to qualify could still hold real value as there are a few factors which still weigh in Chelsea's favour... 

Chelsea should fulfil their part of the bargain
Even though Chelsea choked at West Ham on Saturday, the amount of chances they created showed this team are now improving under Benitez. The fact FC Nordsjlland have only gained one point from their opening five matches, and that back home in Denmark, is a good indicator of the gulf in class between them and the rest of the group. Chelsea should have no real problems getting the three points as odds of 1.121/8 illustrate. 

Rafa Benitez
Rafa may be a million miles away from Chelsea fans producing a banner with anything remotely complimentary on it, yet they need only look at the past which flames their fury to find hope. Apart from failing to record a Premier League victory in his first three games, Rafa's time as Chelsea's Champions League taunter-in-chief at Liverpool is the thing which winds up the Stamford Bridge faithful the most. Nevertheless, it's his credentials in Europe's top competition - a victory and a further final appearance inside his first three seasons at Anfield - which highlight just what a master continental tactician the Spaniard is and, why Chelsea fans should take encouragement. Not to mention Benitez has enjoyed a fair sprinkling of Champions League luck thrown in over the years. Luis Garcia's goal springs to mind, and earlier in that campaign, they required a late flourish against Olympiakos to sneak through their group. Chelsea will certainly need a piece of this in order to put their names in the knockout draw. 

Shakhtar's home record 
As Chelsea witnessed first-hand, Shakhtar are as formidable as any side in the competition in front of their own at the Donbass Arena. Shakhtar's record-breaking domestic campaign saw them emerge as the first Ukrainians to win their opening 15 matches of a season. They now entertain Juventus on a 16-match winning run at home across all competitions and this is a record they will not willingly relinquish.

Shakhtar wish to make amends
Controversy marred Shakhtar's victory against FC Nordsjlland after Luiz Adriano's unsporting strike led to the Brazilian receiving a ban for this match. This should work in Chelsea's favour as the onus is now on the Ukrainians to be doing everything they can to win the game in the name of sporting conduct. The fact their coach Mircea Lucescu has publically stated their intent to win is a good omen for Chelsea.