Rubin Kazan v Chelsea, 5pm, Live on ESPN
Match odds: Rubin 2.78, Chelsea 2.82, the draw 3.45
CHELSEA are in command of this quarter-final tie thanks to an excellent 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge. Fernando Torres scored twice as Chelsea managed to find gaps in a defence that had previously conceded just one goal in 2013.
Since then Kurban Berdyev’s men have kept yet another clean sheet – they drew 0-0 at Kuban Krasnodar at the weekend. Rubin have kept shut-outs in six of their last seven games.
Blues boss Rafa Benitez has adopted a cautious approach away from home in the Europa League, looking to keep possession and contain the opposition.
Those tactics have had mixed results – in the last 32 Chelsea won 1-0 at Sparta Prague but in the last 16 they lost 1-0 at Steaua Bucharest and were fortunate not to suffer a heavier defeat.
Rubin’s home form in the Europa League has been strong. They have won four of their five matches (including a 3-0 win over Inter Milan), keeping clean sheets in all four victories. It is however worth bearing in mind this game won’t be played at Rubin’s Tsentralnyi Stadium – it will instead be played at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Chelsea may go into the game without a specialist left-back – Ashley Cole is injured, while understudy Ryan Bertrand has been struggling with a virus. Centre-back Gary Cahill is out with a knee problem, while Demba Ba is cup-tied
Rubin are expected to hand a start to Venezuelan forward Salomon Rondon as they chase the goals they need to win the tie.
Even when in attacking mode Rubin tend to employ a patient build-up style and with Chelsea looking to protect their lead I think the game will start at a low tempo.
Rubin won’t over-commit early on as they’ll be wary of conceding a costly away goal, so I like the look of backing the draw at halt-time at 2.14. Backing No in the Both Teams To Score market has paid out in all five of Rubin’s Europa League home games, and both of Chelsea’s away games, and it looks attractive here at 2.02.
Recommended Bets
Best Bet: Back No in the Both Teams To Score market at 2.02
Back the draw at Half Time at 2.14
Milesey (Betfair)
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