The top English team will travel to face the top Italian team this Wednesday in what will surely be the match of the week.
Jose Mourinho is credited with having built both squads and they are formidable indeed.
Carlo Ancelotti will be returning to his old stadium to face an old rival.
This weekend's match against Sampdoria showed just how much quality
Internazionale have in their squad. Despite having 2 players sent off in the early minutes and being forced to play with 9 players, the Nerazzuri showed no signs of weakness and eventually managed to draw against the visiting team. Mourinho has many in-form players, the most impressive of which have been Diego Milito, Samuel Eto'o and
Wesley Sneijder.
If
Chelsea FC have an Achilles' Heel it is their ability to be consistent while on the road. The Blues have lost 4 away games this season to Everton, Manchester City, Aston villa and Wigan Athletic. They have also given up points to far weaker sides like Hully City and Birmingham City. The 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park last week outlines how vulnerable they can be. If Ancelotti wants his team to be serious Champions League contenders, he will have to plug this leak.
Chelsea's weekend victory against Wolverhampton will raise the players' spirits ahead of the match in Milan. The two goals scored by Didier Drogba outline how well the Ivorian striker has been playing. Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Jose Bosingwa and Juliano Belletti are all still out with injuries. Perhaps even more detrimental is the sloppy play that has characterized John Terry's game recently.
Ancelotti will hope that the scandal being spread in the tabloids will not affect his centreback's performance on Wednesday.
Both coaches know each other pretty well and there will be no surprises this Wednesday. Expect this to be a tight match with very few goals and even more likely that Inter will draw or win.
Inter Milan vs Chelsea FCWednesday February 24, 2010
Kickoff: 8:45 PM (CET)
Venue: San Siro (Milan)
Tip: Inter Milan +0 (Asian Handicap)
Best Odds: 1.88 @ Tipico
