Chelsea’s nightmare Champions League draw as Barcelona and Real Madrid lie in wait | Football | Sport

Chelsea will certainly be up against it when it comes to their hopes of winning the Champions League this season. The west Londoners are yet to guarantee a place in the round of 16, sitting in eighth position with one more game remaining. A win over Napoli on Wednesday night would significantly boost their hopes of progressing, though that may still not be enough.

Their goal difference will be crucial to determining whether Chelsea go straight through or if they are forced to enter the knockout play-offs. For example, should they beat Napoli by one goal and Barcelona and Sporting win by a margin of three or more, the Blues would face the play-off round.

It’s not all doom and gloom for Chelsea, though. Sixth-placed Paris Saint-Germain host seventh-placed Newcastle on Wednesday night, meaning the Blues stand to move up at least one place in the standings as long as they beat Napoli.

It has been five years since they last won the Champions League and they will be hoping to secure a third European triumph at the end of the season.

Liam Rosenior has been tasked with steering the ship and the 41-year-old would love nothing more than to secure the ultimate honour at the first time of asking. However, the projected knockout stage draw suggests it will be exceedingly difficult.

If the table stays as it is and Chelsea get through in eighth position, they could go up against Barcelona in the round of 16. They have already beaten the Spanish giants this season, scoring three goals without reply on a memorable night at Stamford Bridge.

Another tough test will await the Blues in the quarter-finals with Arsenal or Bayern Munich their projected potential opponents. In the semi-finals, they could be greeted by Manchester City, Real Madrid or defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Chelsea aren’t currently among the favourites to win the Champions League, but a strong run of form in the second half of the campaign could see them break into that conversation.

Rosenior has enjoyed a decent start in west London and former Blues midfielder Steve Sidwell believes the players are quickly getting used to his methods.

Speaking on Sky Sports following Chelsea’s recent victory over Pafos, he said: “It looked like a team that was buying into whatever Rosenior is saying on the training pitch.

“When they lost the ball, they hunted it down within five seconds to regain the ball and move it again. They interchanged positions.

“They had chances through the middle and could have scored a few more, but overall, in and out of possession, I thought they were superb. It was a hard-ground result but one that Liam will be absolutely delighted with.”