Kick Off At 10.15am.
Match Preview:
A week after becoming the first holders of the Champions League to be knocked out in the group stage ? Chelsea and Rafael Benitez go in search for their first piece of silverware this season ? the FIFA Club World Cup Title.
Chelsea have never played in this competition ? but interim manager Rafael Benitez knows exactly what the competition is about. He took Inter to the final and won it in 2010 ? whilst his Liverpool side lost out to sao Paulo in the final after their 2005 Champions League success.
This week away will do wonders for Chelsea Football Club. A week's travel to Japan with the incentive to win their first trophy of the season ? as well as being able to escape the attention of the English press after an Autumn to forget.
After back to back wins against FC Nordsjaelland and Sunderland ? in which Fernando Torres has scored four goals- Chelsea will look to carry their momentum to Japan.
The Blues arrived with a happy Fernando Torres and much attention has been paid on how Chelsea and Benitez will finally get the best out of Fernando, and it seems to be working. Chelsea's more direct and penetrative passing has seen Torres score 4 goals in his last 2 games.
Recent Form: Monterrey
16/11/12 - Monterrey 0-1 Tijuana
19/11/12 - Tijuana 1-1 Monterrey
09/12/12 - Ulsan Hyundai 1-3 Monterrey
Recent Form: Chelsea FC
01/12/12 ? West Ham 3 ? 1 Chelsea
05/12/12 ? Chelsea 6 ? 1 FC Nordsjaelland
08/12/12 ? Sunderland 1 ? 3 Chelsea
Chelsea will be without John Terry as their captain is still fighting his way back to full fitness. Oriol Romeu was injured in Japan with Chelsea and now faces 6 months out of action, whilst Daniel Sturridge also joins the list of absentee's for Chelsea.
Match Prediciton: Chelsea Win
Monterrey play neat, passing football through the middle to get crosses in. That may not get too much joy from a Chelsea defence marshalled by Gary Cahill. The English defender will be joined with Bransilav Ivanovic at the back ? with David Luiz reportedly making the transisiton into a holding midfield role.
Mata, Hazard and Victor Moses will continue to play behind Torres as the lone man ? with Victor Moses looking impressive in recent weeks. Ramires will either be joined by Luiz or Mikel in the midfield. The Nigerian is currently serving a domestic ban in the Premier League ? but will be welcomed back into the Chelsea side tomorrow.
Ashley Cole and the impressive Cesar Azpilicueta will join Cahill and Ivanovic at the back ? whilst Petr Cech captains the side.
Source: DSG
Source: DSG