Chelsea, Shakhtar can advance with away victories

TURIN, Italy - The Associated Press

Chelsea can qualify for the next round of the Champions League with a win at Juventus tonight, although the defending champions need to overturn a dismal record in their previous eight visits to Italy and quickly move on from a domestic loss to West Bromwich Albion.

The London club’s only success when visiting Serie A clubs came with a 4-0 group win over Lazio in 2003, when Frank Lampard scored the final goal. The other seven matches resulted in four losses and three draws.
Group E is tight, with Shakhtar Donetsk and Chelsea leading with seven points each and Juventus one point behind. Nordsjaelland is last with one point.

Shakhtar can also advance tonight with a win at Nordsjaelland, while Juventus needs points against Chelsea to be sure of keeping its hopes alive.

“We’re on the same level as the European champions,” Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon said. “Juventus has earned the respect of any opponent.”

Chelsea is looking to avoid becoming the first reigning champion to fail to qualify for the knockout stage, and faces defending Premier League champion Manchester City this weekend.