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Champions League

Olympiacos v Chelsea: Grant to let the Drog out

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Morgan in the Driving Seat - Alsy talks us through the betting and explains why Didier Droga could bre crucial in a narrow Chelsea win

The Premiership's 'Big Four' had a mixed bag of results in the FA Cup this weekend so a return to Champions League football offers some a chance to build on a winning streak while others require victory to turn around flagging fortunes. Chelsea definitely fit into the former category.

Chelsea continue to go about the business of winning games but without the pomp and fanfare so often associated with the 'Special One' Mourinho. They remain well placed in four competitions and expect to return from Olympiacos Tuesday night with a tangible advantage.

Grant's quiet demeanor probably isn't 'sexy' enough for our feral press-pack so they've been forced to search elsewhere for their backpage 'exclusives' but for opposition teams, playing Chelsea is as daunting as ever.

In the last fortnight many key players have returned for Chelsea (Terry, Drogba, Lampard, Essien and Kalou all travel to Athens) and Grant can argue, with some conviction, that their recent form has been fantastic with the number of recent absentees.

Olympiacos and Chelsea have never played one another but both managers will have done extensive homework as the Champions League enters the knock-out stage. This is the second time that Olympiacos have reached this stage and, like every team left in the competition, should not be taken lightly.

Panagiotis Lemonis' team garnered as many Group C points as Real Madrid beating Lazio and Bremen on their travels away from home. The UK press will focus on the inclusion of former Portsmouth favourite Lomana LuaLua but Argentinean striker, Luciano Galletti, has already scored vital goals in Europe and is probably the best finisher at the club. From midfield the experienced Ieroklis Stoltidis (also a formidable goal threat) will attempt to dictate a fast tempo to satisfy 34,000 baying Athenians in the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

Lemonis studied coaching for a time at the FA and is a fan of the passion of English football. His team (featuring several players who won the European Champions with Greece) top the Greek league and will be well-prepared, especially in defense. They do not have the best disciplinary record but only conceded one goal at home in the group stages and managed to repel the attacking talents of Madrid at home. I expect a tight game and you can back the draw at [3.35] or Olympiacos to win the first leg at [4.5]. If you fancy a home win, a final score line of 1-0 at [10.5] looks most likely to me.

Chelsea are likely to stick with lone striker Didier Drogba. Put simply Drogba is the best striker in the world when it comes to fighting a lone war as a single striker. Fast, strong and able to conjure and create goals with either foot, in or out of the box, you simply can't write off Chelsea's chances of winning when he plays. Olympiacos will have a crumb of comfort insofar as he hasn't looked fully fit of late but if he starts I usually expect Chelsea to score while, with Terry and the criminally underrated Carvalho back in the centre of defense, I can't see them conceding many.

You can back Chelsea to win the leg at [2.05] but considering their recent form (despite injuries and absences) it might be a prudent time to back them at [8] to win the Champions League this year. We'll know a lot more about the main contenders by Wednesday night but perhaps it's Chelsea's turn to make a Champions League final? They certainly have the talent and, if they can avoid Liverpool, will fancy their luck against any side left in the competition.

Unless disaster strikes in Athens, Chelsea will finish the job at Stamford Bridge against a side who have never won in England in seven attempts.