Source: SKY_Sports
Apoel v Chelsea preview
Chelsea are looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season at the weekend as they travel to Cyprus to face Apoel Nicosia.
The Blues met with their first loss under Carlo Ancelotti on Saturday when they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Wigan.
Ancelotti will be looking for an immediate response on the Mediterranean island as he looks for Chelsea to make it two wins
out of two in their UEFA Champions League Group D clash.
But whilst Chelsea are looking to bounce back, Apoel are on a high after winning their first league match of the season at the weekend.
Apoel, who are making their debut in the group stages this season, grabbed an excellent draw in their first clash at Atletico Madrid and they will look to build on that against Chelsea.
Apoel came through qualifying to make the group stages and they won all three of their games at the intimidating GSP Stadium.
With a sell-out in prospect for Chelsea's visit, Apoel coach Ivan Jovanovic is relishing the challenge.
"They are the best team in the group," Jovanovic said.
"We need to exceed ourselves, something we have done many times and must do so again.
"They have excellent players and an excellent coach who has already lifted the trophy. It will be crucial to start well against them, to stand our ground and perform to our best.
"We are hopeful that we can secure a good result. Even a draw would be good for us but to get a good result we need to exceed ourselves. We have done it before and we can do it again."
Jovanovic has far from a fully fit squad available to him with Polish internationals Marcin Zewlakow and Adrian Sikora both sidelined.
Paulo Jorge and Joost Broerse are also on the sidelines, and while there is a doubt over Kamil Kosowski, he is expected to make it.
Ancelotti admits he is not taking Apoel for granted, saying: "It will not be an easy game.
"They did a very good job in Madrid, they drew but they could have won the game."
Chelsea go into the game without suspended duo Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa.
Midfielders Michael Ballack and John Obi Mikel are also ruled out through injury.
Joe Cole and Deco are back in the squad but look unlikely to feature in the starting line-up.
Ancelotti will also give a late fitness to Ashley Cole with Yuri Zhirkov on stand-by to replace him at left-back.
