Chelsea could qualify for knockout stages with victory over Maccabi Tel-Aviv
Chelsea have found some solace in the Champions League amid a miserable start to the season and could qualify for the knockout stages with victory at Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Tuesday night.
A win at Haifa’s Sammy Ofer Stadium – 60 miles north of Tel-Aviv – could seal their progression to the knockout stages, if Porto beat Dynamo Kyiv in Portugal.
If the Ukrainian side avoid defeat at Estadio do Dragao, where Chelsea lost, the Blues’ fate would come down to Porto’s visit to Stamford Bridge on December 9.
Qualification with one round of matches to spare would provide a major fillip for Jose Mourinho and Chelsea.
When they beat Maccabi Tel-Aviv in September, many thought their poor start to the season had ended.
But Mourinho’s men remain deep in the mire, domestically at least, ahead of next week’s trip to Israel.
Chelsea opened their Champions League Group G campaign with a 4-0 defeat of the Israeli side, managed by former Blues midfielder Slavisa Jokanovic.
Diego Costa scored his first Champions League goal for the club in the September 16 game in the first game of a three-match winning run but has netted just once since – against Aston Villa – in a statistic which illustrates the Blues’ struggles.
Chelsea had won one of five matches in all competitions ahead of the Maccabi defeat, but entered the recently completed international break with a record of six wins in 18, placing Mourinho’s position under scrutiny.
Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Dynamo Kyiv last time out in Europe, on November 4, allowed Mourinho to bask in the fans’ support for their embattled boss.
Willian curled in the decisive free-kick after Dynamo appeared to have earned a draw.
“To qualify we didn’t need a win. So it was not a drama, the 1-1,” Mourinho said.
“We knew with the draw, if we win the next two matches we would qualify second in the group.
“By the mental point of view it was important (to win), a reaction to a negative moment.
“That was perfect because we conceded a goal with 15 minutes to go and the team emerged.”
Mourinho will hope the Blues’ emergence continues on Tuesday.