Chelsea vs. Porto: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info

It's judgement day in the Champions League for Chelsea on Wednesday.

Avoid defeat against Porto and Jose Mourinho's men will march into the last 16 of the competition as winners of Group G (unless Dynamo Kiev win by five or more goals against Maccabi Tel Aviv).

Lose, however, and it will mean the end of their Champions League dream for another season with Chelsea joining Manchester Untied in the Europa League.

Mourinho's team must do everything to avoid suffering the same fate as United did on Tuesday when they lost to Wolfsburg.

The Premier League's co-efficient needs it and so does Mourinho to ensure he continues in his job.

Regardless of what has gone on in the Premier League this season, Group G dished up a favourable draw for Chelsea and they can't be seen to crash out against inferior opponents.

It would be one blow too many for the Blues, who have suffered significantly this season as they've struggled to find any consistency at home and abroad.

Mourinho is fully aware of the task that lies ahead of him and his players.

"It is another Champions League game but one with the difference that I play against a team from my country, a team I worked with for a few years, and one with the difference that this is the group phase but because of the results so far, it is transformed to be a knockout phase," the Chelsea explained on Tuesday.

Mourinho couldn't avoid the elephant in the room ahead of this game, and he was constantly questioned about the scenario of his team finishing third in their group and dropping into the Europa League.

"I know at the moment it looks like winning the Europa League is an easier way to be in the Champions League next season than to finish in the top four [of the Premier League]," he said.

"But there is another possibility which is to win the Champions League. It is obviously harder than winning the Europa League but it is the competition where we are."

If his players can be as positive come kick-off, there's every reason Chelsea should come away with maximum points at Stamford Bridge.

But then this is Chelsea and right now we just don't know which team is going to turn up. 

Match Details

Date: Wednesday, December 9

Time: 7.45 p.m. GMT/2.45 p.m. ET

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London

TV Info: BT Sport Europe (UK only)/FoxSports (U.S. only)

Live Stream: BT Sport app (UK only)/Fox2Go (U.S. only)

Last 5 Games

Nov. 7	Stoke City 1-0 Chelsea
Nov. 21	Chelsea 1-0 Norwich City
Nov. 24	Maccabi Tel-Aviv 0-4 Chelsea
Nov. 29	Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Chelsea
Dec. 5	Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth

Nov. 21	Angrense 0-2 Porto
Nov. 24	Porto 0-2 Dynamo Kiev
Nov. 28	Tondela 0-1 Porto
Dec. 2	Uniao 0-4 Porto
Dec. 5	Porto 2-1 Pacos Ferreira

Predicted Lineups

GLYN KIRK/Getty Images

Mourinho confirmed on Tuesday that Ramires, John Terry and Radamel Falcao are all back in training with the first team.

Falcao isn't fully fit after his six-week lay-off, although Terry and Ramires are expected to feature against Porto. The pair had picked up injuries a fortnight ago in Israel when Chelsea defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv on Matchday 5 in the Champions League.

As for the visitors, Porto have no major injury concerns to their key players, leaving head coach Julen Lopetegui a strong squad from which to choose.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Ramires; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Diego Costa.

Porto (4-3-3): Casillas; Maxi, Maicon, Marcano, Martins Indi; Danilo, Ruben Neves, Imbula; Brahimi, Aboubakar, Andre.

Key Players

Nemanja Matic

Clive Rose/Getty Images

Chelsea's defensive midfielder has a big night ahead of him.

Key to winning this game will be Chelsea's ability to control the midfield area, and to do that, Nemanja Matic must marshal the threat of Porto.

When Chelsea romped their way to the Premier League last season, Matic was a key figure to controlling games. We saw him do it on the biggest occasions and now, more than ever, the Serbian must rediscover that edge that has made him so vital to Mourinho's team.

From a solid defensive base, Chelsea can attack Porto and win this game without leaving anything to chance.

Andre Andre

JACK GUEZ/Getty Images

The Porto midfielder gave Chelsea the run around when these sides faced each other on Matchday 2, and he will be another big threat to the Blues' hopes on Wednesday.

Andre Andre was also on the scoresheet in the Estadio do Dragao that night, helping his side to a 2-1 victory.

Porto haven't been that prolific in the group stages of the Champions League this term, despite sitting on equal points with Chelsea. They've found the back of the net just nine times in comparison to the Blues' 11.

Andre is one of their biggest goal threats from midfield, however, and he'll be lurking at Stamford Bridge.

Prediction

Chelsea 2-1 Porto

Odds

Home Win: -125

Away Win: +350

Draw: +250

First Goalscorer: Willian (15/2)

Odds via Odds Shark and Oddschecker

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes