Champions League: Chelsea Face Must-Win to Save Jose, Porto to Qualify

Champions League preview looking at group G, including Chelsea’s floundering season, and the chance for FC Porto to book place in knockout rounds. 

Chelsea vs. Dynamo Kyiv

Chelsea host the Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kyiv at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, which already is being billed as Jose Mourinho’s last chance to save his job as Chelsea manager.

Chelsea’s season lies on the brink, with the Blues currently sitting 15^th in the table, and astonishingly only four points from the relegation zone.

Winning Champions League may their only hope to even be in the competition next season, in a similar fashion to when they won it under Roberto Di Matteo, despite finishing their league season in 6^th place.

The Blues are 3^rd in a tight Group G, which FC Porto lead on seven points. Chelsea however, are just one point behind Dynamo Kyiv, and if results go their way, could find themselves top of the group by the end of match-day four in the Champions League.

The Blues though, will be without defender Branislav Ivanovic, while Pedro Rodriguez is a doubt to play also. Chelsea will surely see Wednesday as an absolute must-win, if not to save Jose Mourinho’s job, but their floundering season.

 Dynamo Kyiv meanwhile, who sit 2^nd in Group G, will see Wednesday as a prime opportunity to put a tangible gap between themselves and Chelsea for that coveted 2^nd place spot in the group.

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The Ukrainian’s sit one point ahead of the Blues on five points after three matches, having been held to a 0-0 stalemate with Chelsea a fortnight ago.

Now Dynamo visit Stamford Bridge, which was witness to another loss for the Blues last weekend, this time a 3-1 loss to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

Domestically Dynamo are in good form, with only inferior goal difference keeping them below Shakhtar Donetsk on 31 points after 12 matches.

Chelsea vs. Dynamo Kyiv Match Prediction

Wednesday poses what feels as close as it can get as a ‘last chance’ for Jose Mourinho to save his job. Indeed, with the Premier League a constant toil, some relief through European success is likely their best means of success this season.

 Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. FC Porto

Maccabi Tel Aviv welcome FC Porto to the Bloomfield Stadium on Wednesday as the Israeli outfit hope to finally get off the mark in their Champions League campaign.

Maccabi Tel Aviv has endured a European campaign so far this season which greatly belies their rather impressive domestic form.

Macabbi have lost their three Champions League games so far, without scoring one goal and conceding eight.

In the Ligat HaAl however, Maccabi are only 2^nd to Hapoel Beet Sheva on goal difference, with both clubs having accrued 19 points after 9 matches.

Notably, the last time Maccabi were in this elite company, in 2004/05, they had the misfortune of sharing a group with three former winners: FC Bayern München, Juventus and AFC Ajax.

Maccabi’s only previous encounter with Portuguese opposition, a 2002/03 UEFA Cup first round tie with Boavista FC, produced a 1-0 first-leg win in their home game, which was staged in Sofia. They went down 4-1 away.

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FC Porto meanwhile been be pleased with their current efforts so far in the Champion League, with the Portuguese outfit top of  Group G on seven points after three games.

With Chelsea facing Dynamo Kyiv in a must-not-lose match the same night, FC Porto could add daylight between them and the chasing pack at the top of the group.

Domestically FC Porto are in typically good form, but sit five points below leaders Sporting Lisbon on 18 points after nine games.

Porto hope to improve on last season’s run to the quarter-finals where they lost 7-4 on aggregate to FC Bayern München, suffering a 6-1 second-leg loss in Germany.

Notably, The 2003/04 and 1986/87 European Cup winners have scored two goals in each of their three games so far.

Maccabi Tel Aviv s. FC Porto Match Prediction

Wednesday will be a test of FC Porto’s nerve, as much as anything. If they remain calm, victory – and essentially qualification to the knockout stages – is eminently plausible.