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Cape Town - Chelsea will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the
season when they host NK Maribor in the Champions League at Stamford
Bridge on Tuesday.
The Blues got off to a shaky start in Group G as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home against Schalke in September, although they bounced back to winning ways two weeks later after dispatching Sporting Lisbon 1-0 in Portugal.
Jose Mourinho's men, who are unbeaten in the English Premier League this season, will now be looking to strengthen their grip at the top of the group table when they face minnows Maribor.
Ante Simundza's men were expected to struggle in Europe this year, but draws against Schalke and Sporting have left them second in the standings, ahead of the former only on goal difference.
On the team front, Mourinho could look to rest some of his first-choice options, with a league clash against Manchester United coming up on Saturday, and has already confirmed Diego Costa will again sit out, having missed this past weekend's win over Crystal Palace.
Fellow off-season arrival Cesc Fabregas could also be given the night off, having played - and scored - against the Eagles, while Filipe Luis is expected to be given some game time, considering he is likely to play against United as first-choice left-back Cesar Azpilicueta will be suspended for that game.
For Maribor, 19-year-old defender Petar Stojanovic misses out with a thigh strain, but proves to be the side's only fresh injury concern ahead of the trip to west London.
The Blues got off to a shaky start in Group G as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home against Schalke in September, although they bounced back to winning ways two weeks later after dispatching Sporting Lisbon 1-0 in Portugal.
Jose Mourinho's men, who are unbeaten in the English Premier League this season, will now be looking to strengthen their grip at the top of the group table when they face minnows Maribor.
Ante Simundza's men were expected to struggle in Europe this year, but draws against Schalke and Sporting have left them second in the standings, ahead of the former only on goal difference.
On the team front, Mourinho could look to rest some of his first-choice options, with a league clash against Manchester United coming up on Saturday, and has already confirmed Diego Costa will again sit out, having missed this past weekend's win over Crystal Palace.
Fellow off-season arrival Cesc Fabregas could also be given the night off, having played - and scored - against the Eagles, while Filipe Luis is expected to be given some game time, considering he is likely to play against United as first-choice left-back Cesar Azpilicueta will be suspended for that game.
For Maribor, 19-year-old defender Petar Stojanovic misses out with a thigh strain, but proves to be the side's only fresh injury concern ahead of the trip to west London.
