Chelsea have not exactly been enjoying this season due to wildly inconsistent and unimpressive form plaguing them all campaign long, even in the Champions League. Last time out on the continent, they had a tough trip to Portugal in their loss to Porto, and now they face another difficult journey. This time they’re headed to Ukraine to face Dynamo Kyiv, the surprise leaders of Group G after two matchdays.
Chelsea vs. Dynamo Kyiv, Champions League 2015: Time, TV schedule and team news
Chelsea head to Ukraine to battle Dynamo Kyiv and hope to continue the momentum from their weekend win.
Chelsea did win on Saturday to try to reclaim some momentum for this match, but it’s still going to be a tough battle. Dynamo are a good team and have proven time and again that they can hang around with just about any team in Europe. Given their relative form, Chelsea are going to have to be much improved if they’re going to get the job done in this match.
Key Dynamo Kiev player -- Andriy Yarmolenko
Perhaps this is a bit obvious because he’s Dynamo’s best player, but, well, he’s Dynamo’s best player. He’s also likely to get a favorable matchup with the young and fairly raw Baba Rahman likely to start at right back for Chelsea. That’s a matchup Yarmolenko can easily exploit unless Chelsea find a way to help Rahman out. We could see the Ukraine international star have a huge match.
Key Chelsea player -- Eden Hazard
Hazard has been sent a message in Chelsea’s last two matches by starting on the bench: play better or else. He’s had a rough go of things this season and has left Chelsea fans disappointed. Still, he’s incredibly talented. If Hazard takes his benching as the challenge it is and comes out in this match like he’s running from a fire, Chelsea will be really, really hard to beat.
Dynamo Kiev injuries and suspensions
In doubt: Serhiy Rybalka (thigh)
Chelsea injuries and suspensions
Out: Branislav Ivanovic (hamstring), Thibaut Courtois (knee)
Chelsea will be missing Courtois in a big way, though Asmir Begovic has been a fairly capable replacement in goal. Ivanovic is a slightly different matter -- he’s a very valuable player, but his form has been poor this season. Chelsea might actually be better off without him in the lineup right now, though Jose Mourinho would likely be happier having him available from the bench if nothing else.
Match Date/Time: Tuesday, 2:45 p.m. ET, 8:45 p.m. local
Venue: NSK Olimpiyskiy, Kiev, Ukraine
TV: Fox Soccer Plus (U.S.), BT Sport 2 (U.K.), TSN4 (Canada), Futbol 1, Kanal 5 Ukrania (Ukraine)
Online: ESPN 3, Fox Soccer 2 Go (U.S.), BT Sport Live (U.K.), TSN (Canada)
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