Former Favourite Ready To Test Blues

With Chelsea unbeaten in 18 matches across all competitions this season, and Schalke unbeaten at home in 2013-14, the draw looks outstanding value here at best odds of 14/5 with Boylesports.

The bookies assume the Londoners will seal their progress to the knockout stages with victory here (5/6 WilliamHill) but that is to underestimate the familiar face in the opposing dugout.

Roberto Di Matteo will not be short of motivation having been sacked by the Blues a few months after securing them a first Champions League trophy. He can so far boast a 100% at the Veltins-Arena where he took over early last month. It should be noted that Jens Keller only really lost his job due to poor away form; the Germans remained formidable on their own patch.

There haven’t been a shortage of draws in Group G already with both these sides sharing the spoils once apiece with Maribor as well as when they met each other at Stamford Bridge back in September. Both could be pretty confident of progressing with another one here which only makes it more likely.