Chelsea vs Porto team news: John Terry and Diego Costa return for crucial Champions League tie

Jose Mourinho able to call on captain for match at Stamford Bridge 

Simon Rice
Wednesday 09 December 2015 19:40 GMT
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John Terry pictured during Chelsea training
John Terry pictured during Chelsea training (Getty Images)

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John Terry is back for Chelsea's crucial Champions League tie against Porto whilst Jose Mourinho has named striker Diego Costa up front.

The captain returns to the side following an ankle injury having been in training this week.

Meanwhile Costa, who has been on the bench in recent weeks, returns to the starting XI for the match at Stamford Bridge.

Ramires, who has been struggling with a knock, is also back. He plays alongside Nemanja Matic with Willian, Oscar and Eden Hazard playing in a creative three behind Costa.

Terry will have Kurt Zouma alongside him with Branislav Ivanovic and César Azpilicueta completing the defence ahead of Thibaut Courtois.

Mourinho will be all too aware of the need for a result in tonight's match, with the Chelsea manager under severe pressure.

Chelsea in all likelihood need a result from tonight's match. A win or a draw would guarantee them a place in the next round, however should they lose to Porto and Dynamo Kiev win their match against the group's whipping boys Maccabi Tel Aviv, they would go into the Europa League.

In terms of finishing top of the group, a win is the only result that would produce that outcome. A draw makes things more complicated, but whatever the scenario Chelsea would be runners-up. If Dinamo Kiev lose their game, Porto would finish top on a better head-to-head record with Chelsea. If Kiev win, the Ukrainian side would join Chelsea and Porto on the same points, with the placing going down to a min-league between those three sides. It would see Kiev win the group but Chelsea go through as runners-up.

CHELSEA TEAM...

Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa

Substitutes: Begovic, Cahill, Mikel, Kenedy, Fabregas, Pedro, Remy

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