Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea take on Valencia, Schalke and Rosenborg in a tricky group. Rosenborg are unlikely to be more than spectators but both Schalke and Valencia will be fighting hard for qualification and matches between these two sides could easily be the highlight of the group.
Chelsea vs Valencia also promises to be a tasty fixture, and overall this group will have good football to watch and will definitely be more interesting than Group A.
Let’s look at the fixtures list before going team by team and analysing past matchups between these four teams.
Teams
Chelsea (England)
Valencia (Spain)
Schalke (Germany)
Rosenborg (Norway)
Fixtures
Matchday One – Tuesday – 18 Sep 2007
Chelsea vs Rosenborg
Schalke vs Valencia
Matchday Two – Wednesday – 3 Oct 2007
Valencia vs Chelsea
Rosenborg vs Schalke
Matchday Three – Wednesday – 24 Oct 2007
Rosenborg vs Valencia
Chelsea vs Schalke
Matchday Four – Tuesday – 6 Nov 2007
Valencia vs Rosenborg
Schalke vs Chelsea
Matchday Five – Wednesday – 28 Nov 2007
Rosenborg vs Chelsea
Valencia vs Schalke
Matchday Six – Tuesday – 11 Dec 2007
Chelsea vs Valencia
Schalke vs Rosenborg
Team by Team
Chelsea
Chelsea have been impressive in the Champions League over the last four seasons, reaching the semi-finals 3 out of 4 times and losing to eventual winners Barcelona on the other occasion in the 2nd round.
They definitely have the players and the coach to be successful in Europe and to top this group – the only question will be whether Valencia and / or Schalke can come up with something special to stop them in their home games. It’s unlikely, so I’m expecting Chelsea to take this group, although Valencia should give them a good scare at the Mestalla.
I’m tipping Malouda and Shaun Wright-Phillips to play a big role in Chelsea’s bid for European domination, but with the team spirit at Chelsea every single player will be giving 120%.
Valencia
Serial under-achievers in the domestic league and in Europe, Valencia once again go into the Champions League with one eye over their shoulder.
A club of Valencia’s class needn’t worry about Schalke but anything’s possible and Valencia’s tendency to collapse in a pretty heap means that Schalke are in with a shout of pipping the Spaniards to the 2nd spot in the group.
Valencia have bought well in the summer though, and if they can get their act together in time they will be difficult to keep out of the 2nd round.
Schalke 04
Disciplined and talented, Schalke’s only failing could be their inability to go the extra distance when it matters.
After being runners up for the 3rd time in 7 seasons, some would commend Schalke for continuously improving, but the reality is that this team is as mercurial in performances as fellow Group B team Valencia.
With Rosenborg unlikely to provide tough opposition Schalke’s primary goal would be to take at least 4 points from their home games against Valencia and Chelsea, and then they could, with a draw at the Mestalla (quite possible), head into the 2nd round.
Rosenborg
Domestically very strong but still a long way away from being a force in Europe.
Rosenborg have regularly made the Champions League group stages, at one point reaching the quarter finals in 96/97, but other than that they’ll be makeweights in this group. A home win against Valencia or Schalke could be an outside possibility.
Previous Matchups
Chelsea vs Rosenborg
No previous encounters.
Chelsea vs Schalke
No previous encounters.
Chelsea vs Valencia
Champions League 2006/2007 – Playing in the quarter finals, Chelsea drew 1-1 at home before beating Valencia away 2-1. In both legs Chelsea were a goal down at half-time.
Valencia vs Schalke
Uefa Cup 1996/1997 – Valencia lost the away leg 0-2 before drawing the home game 1-1, thus crashing out of the quarter-finals as Schalke went on to win the Uefa Cup that season.
Valencia vs Rosenborg
No previous encounters.
Schalke vs Rosenborg
No previous encounters.
Predictions
1. Chelsea
2. Valencia
3. Schalke
4. Rosenborg
Comments and predictions are welcome.
You can read the full 07/08 Champions League preview here.
Also Read: 07/08 Champions League Group Stage Draw and 07/08 Champions League Fixtures List.
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