Soccer

Chelsea Vs. Racing Genk, 2011 UEFA Champions League Matchday 3 Preview: Blues Get A Midweek Nap

A depleted Racing Genk team goes to Stamford Bridge for a Group E Champions League showdown with almost no hope of a result against mighty Chelsea

by Ryan Rosenblatt

Oct 19, 2011, 8:20 AM UTC

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Chelsea Vs. Racing Genk, 2011 UEFA Champions League: Blues Win A Laugher 5-0

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When one of the world's top teams, like Chelsea, gets to host a Champions League minnow, like Racing Genk, it's not supposed to be much of a contest. When that minnow is almost out of options along the back line, well, that's when things get ugly. Genk's defense has been battered by injuries, almost erasing that small chance they ever had at getting a result at Stamford Bridge. It also makes it easier for Chelsea to rest a few players in need of a break. All in all, this one looks good for the Blues.

It was always going to be an uphill battle for Genk to get a result, but the injuries to their back line have been a killer. Jose Nadson, Torben Jonelei and Jeroen Simaeys are all out due with injuries, leaving the defense decimated. Midfielder Daniel Tozser will have to play in the center of defense and Daniel Pudil, who is preferred on the wing, will have to play left back. The absences aren’t limited to the back though. Captain and midfielder David Hubert is out and so is forward Jelle Vossen. Genk is what us fancy football writers like to call screwed.

Chelsea are already a better team that don't need much help, but Genk's injuries have given them additional help. That will allow John Terry and Jose Bosingwa to take breaks. It also gives them a chance to play Josh McEachran, assuming Andre Villas-Boas knows where to find him.

It's tough to imagine the Genk's patchwork defense being overly organized or strong. That's not good news for a team whose best hope was probably defend, defend, defend and hope for a point or the occasional opportunity on the counter-attack. Chelsea will control possession and the crafty Juan Mata will find himself with plenty of opportunities to run at over-matched defenders. Fernando Torres and Nicolas Anelka won't have much trouble losing their out-of-position defenders and the midfield won't find themselves pressured too much.

The most interesting part of the match will be watching Kevin De Bruyne playing against his possible future team. Chelsea have been linked to the 20-year-old Belgian on several occasions and it looked like he might make the move to Stamford Bridge, with a loan back to Genk, in the summer. It didn’t happen, but it still could happen in the future. If De Bruyne can impress on Wednesday it might be what convinces Chelsea to pull the trigger on the big money transfer.

In the meantime, we’ll just watch De Bruyne’s possible future team put a beat down on his current team. When that is done, Chelsea will be on seven points from three matches and well on their way to a spot in the knockout stages.