Copenhagen test for faltering Chelsea
Real look to break jinx as Mourinho’s men take on bogey team Olympique Lyon
The one positive from Chelsea's FA Cup defeat by Everton on penalties is that Carlo Ancelotti's faltering side can now focus solely on the trophy that has proved agonisingly elusive in recent years.
Not that FC Copenhagen will be concerned with that when the Danes host the Premier League champions in their atmospheric Parken Stadium on Tuesday, in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
While there is a huge difference in experience between the two with Copenhagen in uncharted territory up against a club with five Champions League semifinals in the last seven years, Chelsea's current malaise suggests Ancelotti's side could be in for a testing night in the Danish capital.
Copenhagen have been thorny opponents for some of Europe's big names in recent years. They were undefeated at home in Group D this season, holding Barcelona to a 1-1 draw, while they also enjoyed a victory over Manchester United a few seasons ago. With Chelsea's Premier League title hopes all but gone and defeat by Everton ending their dream of a third consecutive FA Cup, Ancelotti is now under pressure to deliver Europe's biggest club prize for the first time.
Copenhagen are coached by enigmatic Norwegian Stale Solbakken, who played in midfield for the club before his career was abruptly ended by a heart attack on the training ground.
Solbakken's heart problems have not had any effect on his competitive nature, however, and he and Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola had to be separated following the final whistle of the group game in Denmark.
Though a quintessentially Danish team with a well-organised defence and a quick, technical passing game, Solbakken's side has a distinctly South American flavour going forward.
The Brazilian pairing of box-to-box midfielder Claudemir and striker Cesar Santin are augmented by Christian Bolanos, a technically gifted Costa Rican midfielder who is adept at getting forward and creating chances. On the wing, former Chelsea player Jesper Gronkjaer is still capable of causing problems, as he showed against Barcelona.
Mourinho magic needed
Jose Mourinho ended Chelsea's half a century wait for an English title, he brought European Cup glory back to Inter Milan after 45 years and now he battles Olympique Lyon's mesmeric hold over mighty Real Madrid. If there was ever a man to conquer a hoodoo it is the Portuguese coach but he has more than one jinx to deal with in Tuesday's first leg in France.
Lyon have beaten Real at home three times in a row in the competition including last year where they condemned the Spaniards to their sixth successive last 16 elimination.
