Chelsea v Genk Champions League Betting Odds – 19.10.11

Chelsea are looking comfortable in Group E of the Champions League so far. They top the group ahead of Germans Bayer Leverkusen by a point after two matches. Chelsea opened their Champions League account with a 2-0 win over the Germans, although it took them until late in the match to make their mark. They then really squandered the chance at another three points on a trip to Valencia, which they should have won but didn’t convert their chances. A sloppy penalty at the death gave Valencia the lifeline they needed to grab a point. Chelsea go into the match on the back of a strong 3-0 home win against Everton in the Premier League on the weekend. The team look to be settling a lot more under Andre Villas Boas now, looking more fluent and clinical in their attacks. There is a lot of good things coming from Spaniard Juan Mata, who is really pulling all the creative strings with his floating role from the left hand side. Chelsea play with a lot more width now and of course have plenty of options when it comes to strikers. It should be a run out for Fernando Torres, who is serving a three match Premier League ban at the moment. Didier Drogba lead the line against Everton, but he looked very ineffective and wasn’t his usual domineering self. Chelsea face Belgian side Genk and look to defend their great unbeaten home run in the group stage of the Champions League. Chelsea have not been beaten at Stamford Bridge in the group stage stretching back eight seasons now and a total of 24 matches, and the run doesn’t look set to end on Wednesday night either. So with the strength in depth that Chelsea have in their squad, Villas Boas may ring some changes again, and on the strength of their home form, it doesn’t look likely that we will be witnessing a major upset. Chelsea are stroking the ball around well, with confidence, but lost Ramires to a knee injury. Chelsea look to be a more grounded side this year and owner Roman Abramovich, who so desperately wants the Champions League title, should be feeling confident.

It hasn’t all been strife for Genk in the Champions League this season, as they scored themselves a huge point at home against Valencia in their Match Day One fixture, thanks to a 0-0 draw. That was a nice introduction to the tough group for them, but then went down 2-0 away at Leverkusen on Match Day Two. A trip to Stamford Bridge is unlikely to provide points for them, and they look as if they are going to struggle to score goals. Even their domestic form in the Belgian league has been nothing to write home about, sitting ninth in the table, with just three wins from ten matches. They head to London on a run of two defeats in the league. Chelsea have met Belgian sides six times before, and have never been involved in a draw with any of them. There have been four wins over Belgian sides for Chelsea and two defeats. This will be the first time in their history though that they have come up against Genk. Likewise, Genk, who are making their appearance in a major European tournament for the first time in nine years, have never met English opposition before in competition. Their last appearance in the Champions League was back in 2002/03 when they picked up four points from a group containing Real Madrid, Roma and AEK Athens. So nothing much on the cards in West London on Wednesday night other than three points for the Blues really. Chelsea have the strength and the current form to run in a few goals in this fixture, and set themselves up strongly to book top spot at the half way stage of the group fixtures. Leverkusen host Valencia as well on Wednesday, and a draw would suit Chelsea just fine in that fixture.

Chelsea v Genk Betting Odds
Chelsea to win: 1/7 at Boylesports
Draw: 8/1 at Victor Chandler
Genk to win: 25/1 at Bet365

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