Watch Valencia vs Chelsea Live 28th September 2011

Mata returns to former club as Blues look to stay on top
Chelsea will be focused on retaining pole position in Group E when they travel to Valencia in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening.

After beating Bayer Leverkusen last time out, Andre Villas-Boas' men sit top of their group and two points clear heading into the second-round Mestalla clash.

The return of summer signing Juan Mata to his former club just weeks after arriving at Stamford Bridge is expected to bring added spice to the encounter.

But there will be no room for sentiment, with Valencia coach Unai Emery determined to secure a home victory.

He said: "We know all about Chelsea but also know that we are a very strong side, even more so here at Mestalla.

"We are only focused on ourselves and want to produce a great game and a victory for our fans. Tomorrow every player wearing blue [including Mata] will be our enemy."

Villas-Boas added of Mata's chances of facing his old employers: "Different players react differently when coming back home or to an emotional place.

"You just have to wait and see if [Mata] is going to be involved."

The Blues recovered from their defeat to Manchester United last weekend when they thrashed promoted Swansea 4-1, while Valencia were seen off 1-0 at Sevilla - their first defeat of the season.
Team news

Blues boss Villas-Boas must decide whether to recall Frank Lampard to his line-up for the Spanish trip.

Lampard has started the last two matches on the bench and it seems unthinkable he will not be in the XI at the Mestalla.

Daniel Sturridge is expected to be fit after a knee injury, Ramires is available after missing the Blues' opener against Leverkusen through suspension, but Romelu Lukaku is ineligible and Alex, Paulo Ferreira and Josh McEachran did not travel to Spain.

Valencia midfielder David Albelda bruised his back against Barcelona and did not face Sevilla at the weekend, while Mehmet Topal tore a shoulder muscle in the goalless draw with Genk last time out.

Source:www.skysports.com

Barca, Arsenal, AC Milan bid to ignite Euro flame

Champions Barcelona will be bidding to get their Champions League title defence back on track Wednesday as Arsenal and AC Milan also look to keep the dream alive in the second round of elite European matches.

Chelsea's Spanish forwards Juan Mata (R) and Fernando Torres play with the ball during a training session at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia on the eve of the UEFA Champions League football match between Valencia and Chelsea.

But English giants Chelsea, who have already got their campaign off to a winning start, are set for possibly their toughest group assignment when they meet Spanish side Valencia at the Mestalla.

Barcelona were held 2-2 by 2010 champions AC Milan at the Nou Camp in their Group H opener, but despite riding high after a 5-0 hammering of Atletico Madrid in La Liga in which Lionel Messi scored a hattrick, coach Pep Guardiola warned against complacency as the Catalans travel to Minsk to take on Belarus champions FC Bate Borisov.

Both sides are level in Group H on one point after Bate drew 1-1 at Czech champions FC Viktoria Plzen.

"We are not unbeatable - any team can beat us. But if we do things right, the fans who come to watch us will have a good time, which is the most important thing," insisted Guardiola.

"We played very well (against Atletico), it was a lesson in concentration, but ... we have to do it again. Let's see if we’re able maintain this level. It's this year's challenge."

Bate have lost their previous two ties against visiting Spanish sides Villarreal and Real Madrid, but Barcelona's David Villa, who has found the net five times this season, echoed his coach: "Barca play a very high level of football, but each day is different and no team is unbeatable.

"But we sense that the fans are excited. They know how much potential we’ve got and what we can do, but we are aware that is only just starting."

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas' side will be looking to take a big step towards the last-16 when they travel to Spain with striker Juan Mata just one month after he left Valencia for Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea sit top of Group E after a 2-0 home win against Bayer Leverkusen with Valencia drawing at Belgium side Genk, who travel to the German club.

Chelsea, who defeated Swansea 4-1 at the weekend, are unbeaten in their last six visits to Spain going back to 2005 and have won both previous trips to Valencia 2-1.

But Villas-Boas knows they face a tough task at Valencia despite the Spaniards' goalless draw at Genk and a La Liga loss at the weekend to Sevilla.

"The result at Genk was unexpected," said Villas-Boas.

"Genk is a difficult place to go and it's a very tight stadium with a good environment. But I was expecting Valencia to take the win.

"So I would say that this is a game where Valencia will try to get three points.

"A win at Valencia would put us in a very, very good position."

Fellow Londoners Arsenal are second behind French club Marseille in Group F after a late goal gave German champions Borussia Dormund a share of the points.

Arsene Wenger is keen his side claim maximum points from the three home fixtures against Olympiakos, Dortmund and Marseille to help them reach the 11-point target he has set to ensure qualification to the knock-out stages.

The Gunners have a major doubt over whether winger Theo Walcott will be fit as they host Greek club Olympiakos after he suffered a knee injury in his side's 3-0 victory over Bolton, just their second of the Premier League this season.

Marseille host Borussia Dortmund in the second Group F tie.

In Group G, UEFA champions FC Porto travel to Zenit St Petersburg.

FC Porto have won all four of their previous visits to Russia but Zenit were unbeaten at home in Europe last season. Porto won their opener against Shakthar Donetsk 2-1 as Zenit fell to Apoel Nicosia in Cyprus by the same scoreline.

Apoel travel to FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukraine.

AC Milan host FC Viktoria Plzen in the second Group H tie.

Milan, got their first win of the season in Serie A at the weekend, albeit against tailenders Cesena but have been boosted by the return from injury of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and captain Massimo Ambrosini.

Source: www1.dtinews.vn