Ancelotti backs Chelsea to avoid Danish disaster

Lyon looking to draw first blood against Real.

LONDON: Carlo Ancelotti has backed Chelsea to keep their Champions League hopes alive with a victory over FC Copenhagen today.

Ancelotti’s team meets Copenhagen for their last-16 first-leg tie with morale at low ebb after Saturday’s FA Cup exit. His job will be in danger if Copenhagen eliminate Chelsea from Europe.

“Sometimes it’s good to play tough games because you’re focused, more competitive, so we don’t have to be afraid to play against Copenhagen,” said Ancelotti. “It could be a good motivation for us.”

Copenhagen are one of the less formidable teams in the competition but are unbeaten at home in the Champions League this season. They also have inside knowledge of Chelsea, with former Blues winger Jesper Gronkjaer in their ranks.

Lyon eye a Real upset

Lyon’s Stade Gerland has not been a happy hunting ground for Real Madrid with the Spanish side failing to win in their last six encounters between the two sides.

Lyon coach Claude Puel knows facing Real will be challenging.

“We’ll have to be capable of raising the level of our play,” he said. “It’ll be a very tough match.”

The French side will be without forward Lisandro Lopez after he sustained a thigh injury and Puel admits he has a “head-ache” over how to replace him. Real won 2-0 at home to Levante on Saturday with some major players on the bench and coach Jose Mourinho confirmed that they would be in the starting eleven in France.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2011.