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Chelsea head for make-or-break encounter

Carlo Ancelotti is on course to produce the worst season seen at Chelsea since Roman Abramovich took charge of the club © Getty Images

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When the Champions League knockout draw was made back on December 18, a tie against the first Danish side to make it this far in Europe's flagship competition looked all but a formality for Chelsea. But, since that day in Nyon, Carlo Ancelotti's struggling team have been eliminated from every other competition and plunged into a relative crisis.

Despite a short-lived mini revival that ended Chelsea's worst run in 15 years, Ancelotti's side have been left trailing in the race for the Premier League title - it's now debatable if they will even finish in the top four - and this week the Blues' FA Cup campaign went the same way as their Carling Cup challenge.

A £70 million January transfer splurge on Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and Benfica centre-back David Luiz has not had the instant impact that owner Roman Abramovich had hoped for and the club's ebb is so low that under-pressure Ancelotti has been moved to insist that he will not quit the club.

A defeat following extra-time and penalties against Everton in the FA Cup on Saturday was hardly ideal preparation for a game that has suddenly taken on such huge significance; add to this the fact that Ancelotti has publicly stated that, of his starting XI that day, only Petr Cech, John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic were "playing near the top of their level" and there are plenty of reasons for Copenhagen to be optimistic.

Ancelotti also has a tactical dilemma ahead of Tuesday's match, with Torres available to play in Europe. The former Liverpool hitman has looked so far off the pace he's barely recognisable as the record-breaking foreign import of old, but at £50 million it will be hard to leave him out. The last time Torres donned the blue shirt, against Fulham last weekend, Drogba was dumped to the bench - but the duo are expected to be in tandem at the Parken Stadion.

Copenhagen wrapped up their Champions League preparations with a 5-0 friendly win over Norwegian side Rosenborg, however, the winter break in the Danish Superliga means they have not played a competitive match since December 7, when they beat Panathinaikos to set up this clash. The Danish champions' last six games have all been friendlies against Scandinavian opposition and manager Stale Solbakken is concerned that his players may not be up to pace against a team that "play at a high tempo every fourth day". However, Solbakken is confident that, if they can get through this tie, his side will be more up to speed at Stamford Bridge.

Copenhagen finished second behind Barcelona in the group phase after coming through the qualifying rounds with an unbeaten home record, winning four matches, against BATE Borisov, Rosenborg, Rubin Kazan and Panathinaikos, and holding the mighty Catalans to a 1-1 draw. With only central defender Solvi Ottesen out due to a back injury, Copenhagen are likely the stick with the same personnel and the same 4-4-2 that beat Rosenborg, relying on their pace down the wings to feed the front two of Dame N'Doye and Cesar Santin.

Copenhagen player to watch - Jesper Gronkjaer: The former Chelsea winger will be fired up against his old club and the 33-year-old will be hoping to roll back the years on Tuesday. The Dane, who won 80 international caps, was a right winger during his time at Stamford Bridge but has been switched to the left by Solbakken, allowing him to cut inside on his favoured right foot and cause danger with his shooting. The experienced midfielder, who scored in Copenhagen's last Champions League outing, is still a key figure for the runaway Danish Superliga leaders.

Chelsea player to watch - Fernando Torres: There are big question marks over the Spanish striker's form and he has done nothing since his big-money move to Stamford Bridge to indicate that he is about to hit the goal trail. Torres' debut against Liverpool was poor and the following match against Fulham was even worse. The Euro 2008 and World Cup winner has scored 65 goals in 93 matches since moving to England and it can only be matter of time until he is back to his best. Can't it? The Parken Stadion would be as good a place as any for the 26-year-old to flourish.

Key battle - Dame N'Doye v John Terry: Senegal international N'Doye is Copenhagen's leading goalscorer in the Champions League and joint top-scorer, along with Brazilian strike partner Cesar Santin, in the Danish league so his threat will come as no surprise to Chelsea. Captain John Terry will be the man detailed to shackle the striker, which may be easier said than done as he prefers attacking from deep in a more withdrawn role. Terry was one of the few players singled out by Ancelotti as being in good form recently and the centre-back will need it.

Trivia: Jesper Gronkjaer's wining strike for Chelsea against Liverpool on the final day of the 2003-04 season is known as the £1 billion goal. Just hours after the result had secured qualification for the Champions League for the Blues, billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the debt-ridden club.

Stats: Copenhagen met Chelsea in the 1998-99 Cup Winners Cup, drawing at Stamford Bridge and then losing 1-0 at home.

Odds: Copenhagen (7/2), Chelsea (5/6) and the draw (5/2) are all available at bet365, but Gronkjaer to score first and Copenhagen to draw 1-1 is at 65/1.

Prediction: Chelsea have only won two of their last 15 Champions League away games in the knockout stages and, given their lack of confidence at present, a draw would be an acceptable result.

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