Chelsea vs. Maribor: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Maribor have the opportunity to topple Group G leaders Chelsea on Tuesday if the Slovenians are able to muster an upset in this Champions League clash.
Jose Mourinho's men are currently top of the pile after taking four points from their first two fixtures, while Maribor also remain unbeaten, having drawn against Sporting Lisbon and Schalke thus far.
The Slovenian champions travel to Stamford Bridge in the hopes that they might retain their unbeaten record in Europe's elite contest, with full viewing information and preview detailed ahead.
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Date: Tuesday, Oct. 21
Time: 7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. ET
Live Stream: ITV Player (UK), Fox Soccer 2GO (US)
TV Info: ITV (UK), Fox Sports 2 (US)
Key Players to Watch
Chelsea: Didier Drogba
After sitting out Saturday's 2-1 win at Crystal Palace, Diego Costa's absence from Chelsea's line-up is set to continue in midweek, with Didier Drogba a candidate to take his spot up front.
Costa aggravated an injury while away on international duty, and per the Daily Mail's Rory Keane, Mourinho made no secret of his depreciation for how his striker had been handled while with the Spanish squad:
"After Arsenal he went to the national team, played two big matches and has come back in a condition where he can't play. I think he'll be in great condition in mid-November to be back for the national team. We'll take good care of him. He'll play for me when he has free time from the national team.
"
The blow is a disappointing one for Chelsea, but in Drogba they have a ready and willing replacement prepared to take on the playing time, although Loic Remy is another in the race to lead the Blues line against Maribor.
Parked The Bus feels this would be an ideal opportunity to give Drogba some confidence, presuming Maribor will be an easier test of the west Londoners' abilities:
"Drogba hasn't been given a proper shot, Maribor game the perfect opportunity for him to get a goal back here. Plus, could need Rémy Sunday.
— ParkedTheBus (@ParkedTheBus) October 19, 2014"
Drogba has been a peripheral figure since re-signing for his former outfit, but with a prolific scoring history in the competition, the Champions League could be a welcoming battleground for the Ivorian.
Maribor: Damjan Bohar
As essential as Maribor's defensively inclined players may be, the travelling team will also need their flair players firing on all cylinders to take a result on Tuesday, of which Damjan Bohar is one.
The 23-year-old brings pace to the Maribor wing and will be of vital importance to Tavares' success in front of goal. He is expected to provide a supply of ammunition that keeps the minnows in this fixture.
Outside Of The Boot writer Miran Zore outlined the attacker as a player to watch in this season's Champions League, and after opening the scoring against Schalke last time out, the prediction looks to be a good one:
Branislav Ivanovic will have no new task in coping with a trickster on his flank, but that battle in particular could decide a great deal of Maribor's success in England's capital.
