New Delhi: Away-day blues have not been the order of the day for Chelsea in the Premier League this season, but in Europe's top club competiton, Luiz Felipe Scolari's side have struggled on the road; their form has led them to matchday six, unsure of their fate.
What: UEFA Champions League, Group A, Matchday 6
Who: Chelsea (2nd, 8 points) - CFR Cluj (4th 4 points)
When: Tuesday, December 9 2008, Kick-off: 19:45GMT
Where: Stamford Bridge, London
Time To Deliver
A defeat and a pair of draws away from Stamford Bridge have not exactly left the Pensioners teetering on the brink, but Group A has been a little closer than Chelsea would have wanted.
In fact, the Blues need to beat their guests to ensure a seventh consecutive knock-out spot in this tournament as momentum has stalled and faltered.
At one stage in this group, Chelsea were four points clear and destined for the last 16, but their last two matchdays have been underwhelming to say the least. Roma and Bordeaux have caused Chelsea's charge to be disrupted and seen last season's finalists accrue only one point from their last six.
Domestically too, Stamford Bridge is no longer the fortress it was, with a combination of Scolari's openness and a clutch of injuries causing the veneer of invincibility, crafted by Messrs Mourinho and Grant, to be dismantled.
Arsenal and Liverpool have both won there this season, while Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have all plundered rewards from the Bridge.
However, determination levels should be high enough to make light work of the Romanians in a competition in which home wins have been easy to find for the English side.
There has been a suggestion throughout his stewardship of Chelsea that Luiz Felipe Scolari struggles for a 'Plan B'. Without goals coming through their favoured, high-tempo style of play, the Blues have toiled in vain for a spark or ingenuity against rigid opponents with the ambition only to stop Chelsea scoring.
Sixty minutes of Cluj's team bus in front of goal may have the locals shifting in their seats.
The Wooden Spoon?
There is always a danger, in any sport, that when you undermine the underdog's role in a drama, he will plunge his teeth in your shin. Chelsea, justifiably, will fancy themselves to consign the Transylvanians to the wooden spoon placing in Group A and move into the last 16, but the Blues must not underestimate the bearing that Cluj can have, and indeed have already had, on the outcome of this group.
Despite flying high for the first two matchdays, Cluj have been sharply cut down to size after a run of three successive defeats, but it is their efforts against the likes of Chelsea and Roma that have ensured Group A is the only group with two qualification berths still up for grabs.
Their four points may have been better utilised when divided up amongst the English and Italian giants, but it is testament to Cluj's impact on their debut Champions League campaign that they still have the slenderest hope of making it to the UEFA Cup.
Domestic duty ended on the first weekend of December for the Romanian champions, and now they contemplate the winter break. However, before breaking out the mulled wine and ski-pants, there is one more match to be played; Cluj now have their own vampire cats to let loose amongst the Chelsea pigeons.
Admittedly, Cluj have been off the pace this season, and certainly over the past few weeks. Maybe the surprise factor has been taken out of the upstarts but a quick glance at the Romanian Liga 1 table would suggest that the Transylvanians are behind the standard they set themselves last season.
Heading into the hibernation, Maurizio Trombetta's side lie fourth, six points off Dinamo Bucharest's tally; last season, they were top, 11 clear.
How a spoil-job against Chelsea may raise morale going into the spring, and catapult the side back into the Champions League standings next season.
FORM GUIDE
Chelsea:
6 Dec v Bolton Wanderers (A) Premier League WON 2-0
30 Nov v Arsenal (H) Premier League LOST 2-1
26 Nov v Bordeaux (A) Champions League DREW 1-1
22 Nov v Newcastle (H) Premier League DREW 0-0
15 Nov v West Bromwich Albion (A) Premier League WON 3-0
CFR Cluj:
1 Dec v Gaz Metan Medias (H) Liga 1 WON 2-1
26 Nov v Roma (H) Champions League LOST 3-1
21 Nov v Pandurii Targu Jiu (A) Liga 1 LOST 2-1
16 Nov v FC Arges Pitesti (H) Liga 1 WON 2-0
13 Nov v FC Sportul Studentesc (A) Cupa Romaniei WON 1-0
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea:
Once again, Luiz Felipe Scolari is cursed by injuries and he has selection problems all over the field. Juliano Belletti and Ricardo Carvalho are still missing from his defence, while Michael Essien and Joe Cole's ongoing problems rule them out of midfield contention. Franco Di Santo's hamstring strain limits attacking options, while Frank Lampard serves a one-game ban. On the positive front, Deco is welcomed back after his suspension.
Possible Line Up: Cech - Bosingwa, Terry, Ivanovic, A Cole - Mikel, Ballack, Deco - Malouda, Kalou, Anelka
CFR Cluj
No suspensions to report for the Transylvanians, but they are still short of personnel through injury. Mainstays Eduard Stancioiu and De Sousa are the latest victims, while Tony, Didi and Diego Ruiz remain sidelined.
Possible Line Up: Claro - Muresan, Cadu, Alvaro Pereira, Panin - Dani, Culio, Dubarbier, Deac - Trica, Koné
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chelsea:
Without Frank Lampard, Chelsea's most experienced European campaigner will come to the fore. Michael Ballack has made a
low-key return from injury, but excelled when circumstance thrust him to the fore last season. A big game is expected.
CFR Cluj:
In perhaps his last European fixture of the season, Sebastian Dubarbier has a chance to augment his already burgeoning reputation. Rumours of interest from the brighter lights of Serie A may have the Argentinean prospect relishing the opportunity to rise to the occasion. Arguably, Cluj's most consistent player over the group stage.
PREDICTION
Home form has not been a problem for the Blues in this competition, with two wins already registered. A third looks a certainty, considering what is at stake.
Chelsea 2-0 CFR Cluj
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