© EuroFootball.com
Having reached the final, "Porto" is waiting for their opponent, which will be determined today - in the other semifinal, in the second leg match, "Chelsea" and "Monaco" will clash.
Kick-off at 21:45 Lithuanian time (Live broadcast from 21:35 on TangoTV, video recording at 23:05)
The French club won the first match at their home stadium with a score of 3-1, despite playing part of the match with ten men. So "Chelsea" will need a couple of goals: a 2-0 result would satisfy the English, 3-1 would mean an additional half-hour of extra time and maybe penalty shootouts. If "Monaco" scores twice, "Chelsea" players would need as many as five goals, which is not very realistic.
The history of European trophies does not bode well for the "Chelsea" team - no English club has managed to win with a two-goal deficit in 40 years. "Monaco" has played against English teams seven times and lost only once, while "Chelsea" has faced the French team twice and shared one victory each.
At "Stamford Bridge," their home stadium, victories have been elusive for the past three matches. In Monte Carlo, "Monaco" usually plays very well, but they have not been able to win in four consecutive away matches.
In the "Chelsea" camp, there is a poor atmosphere on the eve of the match - Dutchman Jimmis Haselbainkas criticizes his coach Claudio Ranieri, Emmanuel Petit defends him, and the coach himself says his days at the club are numbered.
"It will be very difficult. Monaco is very close to the final, but we have one last chance and I believe we will play with all our hearts. We will give it our all because it will be crucial. We need to play our best match of the season, while they need to play their worst. But I am always optimistic. If I didn't believe we could do it, I wouldn't go to the match and watch it on television. But we have one last chance and we need to believe in it." - said Ranieri.
These matches will be truly important for "Chelsea," but the coach believes that his days at the club are already numbered: "I think my fate is already decided. It's beyond my control. Nothing would change even if I won." - admitted the coach.
London team captain John Terry believes that today will reveal which of his team-mates have strong character: "It's a big test of character for all the players, and we will see how much our players want to win. It's all in our hands, it's important that we keep a clean sheet, and then I hope the guys up front will score goals."
"Monaco" coach Didier Deschamps, asked if his team is ready for the opponents' attack, said he hadn't thought about it. "We didn't do anything special. It's important to have the same mentality we've had all season. They've done well this year. I want them to do well because they are young and don't have much experience," - said the French coach about his players.
Champions League top scorer and "Monaco" leader Fernando Morientes believes his team should not retreat to defense: "If we do that, I'm sure we'll have a devilish surprise, because Chelsea can certainly score one or two goals without much difficulty."
Both teams are likely to be missing some players due to injuries and suspensions. In "Monaco's" squad, Sebastian Squillaci and Jerome Rothen are doubtful to play, while Andreas Zikos is suspended due to a red card received in the first leg match. In "Chelsea's" camp, the trouble is even greater - the injured Damien Duff will definitely not play, suspended Marcel Desailly and Claude Makelele, doubts remain about Adriano Mutu, Celestine Babayaro, but William Gallas and Scott Parker should still play. Among the good news is that goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini has recovered from injury.
Predicted starting lineups:
"Chelsea" (4-4-2): Cudicini; Melchiot, Gallas, Terry, Bridge; Parker, Lampard, Geremi, Cole; Gudjohnsen, Crespo.
"Monaco" (4-4-2): Roma; Evra, Givet, Rodriguez, Ibarra; Rothen, Cisse, Bernardi, Plasil; Giuly, Morientes.
