Chelsea take on familiar opponents

Chelsea will look extremely familiar to Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho for more reasons than one when the pair meet at the...

Chelsea will look extremely familiar to Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho for more reasons than one when the pair meet at the San Siro on Wednesday in their Champions League clash.

Mourinho won two Premier League titles as manager of the London club while the two sides are similar in style. The determination the Portuguese installed at Chelsea before leaving in 2007 is also in plentiful supply at Inter,as shown by Saturdays 0-0 draw with Sampdoria where the Serie A leaders had two sent off in the first half but had the better chances.

Chelseas Petr Cech and Inters Julio Cesar,set to be fit after a minor car crash,are among the worlds best goalkeepers. Both defences are top-class although left-back is a problem with Cristian Chivu and Davide Santon injured for Inter while Chelseas Ashley Cole misses out and Yury Zhirkov is a doubt.

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Midfielder Javier Zanetti will fill in for the Italians with fellow right-footer Paulo Ferreira poised for the visitors.

A rock solid bank of three midfielders characterises each team and both boast two of the best playmakers in the business Frank Lampard and Wesley Sneijder.

But Chelsea look better up top with Didier Drogba outscoring fellow African player of the year nominee Samuel Etoo.