I’m not underestimating Atletico Madrid one bit but neither am I Jose Mourinho and the Special One gets the nod on Wednesday.
A goalless draw away from home in the first leg of a European knockout tie always leave the return hosts vulnerable but Chelsea are usually excellent defensively and I don’t expect them to be breached at Stamford Bridge.
It will be significantly different personnel on show in London than the eleven that took to the pitch at Anfield on Sunday but the approach will be the same and the outcome might well be too.
Mourinho got his tactics spot on when overseeing his side’s 2-0 win over Liverpool, Demba Ba and Willian on target, and it was another big game in which Chelsea kept a clean sheet.
While the Portuguese would have dearly loved a goal at the Vicente Calderon last week, in truth his team were rarely troubled at the other end and another cautious approach is expected from both sides.
Atletico are on the brink of landing the La Liga title but, while they have plenty of bottle, this is a real test.
Diego Simeone’s men have passed several this season, they are set to get the better of Barcelona and Real Madrid over the course of the campaign, but the squad do lack European experience and this might just be a step too far.
At a push the Spaniards probably boast the more talented individuals, Diego Costa will be the best attacker on display at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea have lifted Continental silverware in each of the last two seasons and now Mourinho is back at the helm also.
I anticipated the hosts to be no bigger than evens to prevail inside 90 minutes and while this will almost unquestionably tight, I do expect them to find the net.
The same cannot be said of Atletico, so toothless on home soil eight days ago, and one goal could well be enough to send the Blues to Mourinho’s homeland for the showpiece to face his former club.
2pts Back Chelsea (vs. Atletico Madrid) @ 13/10 (Paddy Power)