Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. Chelsea: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Chelsea can advance to the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday.
For once this season, it's all rather simple for Jose Mourinho's men. If they defeat Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel and Dynamo Kiev fail to match their result against Porto, then Chelsea will seal their position in the top two of Group G.
That's the target and one that will mean the pressure is off when group leaders Porto visit Stamford Bridge on Matchday 6.
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Given how Chelsea's Premier League campaign has gone thus far, Mourinho will want to focus his attentions on domestic competition as soon as possible.
The Blues got back to winning ways at the weekend with a comfortable victory over Norwich City. The 1-0 scoreline suggested the game was closer than it actually was, but Chelsea dominated from start to finish.
Diego Costa got himself back on the scoresheet, too, meaning it was a confidence-boosting afternoon in west London.
Ahead of this game in Israel, Mourinho hinted at his team beginning to rediscover their best form.
"We are very disappointed with the bad results we had for a significant period of time," said the Chelsea boss. "We need to keep getting results for our happiness, pride and fans.
"[...] We haven't qualified yet but we are OK. Everything is in our hands. If we play like we have been doing, we can win.
"It's simple. If we lose, we are in trouble. If we draw, we can qualify in the last game. If we win, great chance to finish first."
Mourinho is also predicting his team can go far in the Champions League this season, despite not playing with the same authority we saw from them in 2014/15.
“When I won [the Champions League] twice with Porto and Inter [Milan] we were far from favourites," he said.
"We were not even top 10 favourites. When Chelsea won [in 2012], it was a very bad season they had, and they won it. So we know the Champions League has these big doses of unpredictability."
Win on Tuesday and it will be another step on the journey to them realising that dream.
Match Details
Date: Tuesday, November 24
Time: 7.45 p.m. GMT/2.45 p.m. ET
Venue: Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel
TV Info: BT Sport Europe (UK only)/Fox Sports (U.S. only)
Live Stream: BT Sport app/FoxSoccer2Go (U.S. only)
Last 5 Games
| Oct. 26 | Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-4 Beitar Jerusalem |
| Oct. 31 | Hapoel Tel Aviv 0-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| Nov. 4 | Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-3 Porto |
| Nov. 7 | Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-1 Maccabi Netanya |
| Nov. 21 | Hapoel Haifa 0-3 Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| Oct. 27 | Stoke City 1-1 Chelsea (AET) |
| Oct. 31 | Chelsea 1-3 Liverpool |
| Nov. 4 | Chelsea 2-1 Dynamo Kiev |
| Nov. 7 | Stoke City 1-0 Chelsea |
| Nov. 21 | Chelsea 1-0 Norwich City |
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea's injury list remains the same heading into this game, with just Thibaut Courtois ad Radamel Falcao sidelined.
That means Mourinho has room to rotate his team, which would be a wise decision given Chelsea face a massive test against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
With that in mind, we could see Baba Rahman drafted in at left-back. The Ghanaian made his Chelsea debut against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League this term and impressed at Stamford Bridge that night, so has plenty to offer.
As for the home side, there are no major concerns to report other than Dejan Radonjic, who will miss out with an ankle injury.
Maccabi Tel Aviv (4-3-3): Rajkovic; Tibi; T Ben Haim, Garcia, Harush; Reikan, Alberman, Peretz; T Ben Haim II, Zahavi, Vermouth.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Rahman; Matic, Ramires; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Diego Costa.
Key Players
Eran Zahavi
It's been a dreadful group campaign in the Champions League for Maccabi Tel Aviv. They've lost all four of their games, scoring just once.
The scorer of that solitary goal was Zahavi, who is the creative hub of this side. His strike against Porto on Matchday 4 proved nothing other than a consolation, though, as his team went down 3-1.
If the Israelis are to take anything from this game, the feeling is that Zahavi is the man who must deliver.
Currently rock bottom, two wins in their final two group games could see them reach the Europa League, which is what they must be striving for.
The Belgian was back to his majestic best against Norwich City on Saturday. A repeat performance from him in Israel will go a long way to Chelsea winning this match.
Foo too long this season, Hazard has looked under-cooked, but now he seems fit and ready to get Chelsea's season up and running at last.
It started with an impressive display ahead of the international break against Stoke City, which was followed up against Norwich.
Chelsea have lacked inspiration and threat in the past few months, but with Hazard back on form that will change and should mean the Blues of old return sooner rather than later.
Prediction
Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-2 Chelsea
Odds
Home Win: +700
Away Win: -250
Draw: +350
First Goalscorer: Diego Costa (7/2)
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
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