Ferreira plots course to Group D summit

They may have booked their places in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages with two games to spare, but FC Porto and Chelsea FC are not ready to down tools just yet – there is still the matter of who finishes top of Group D. Having beaten Porto 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Matchday 1 the unbeaten English side hold the whip hand, albeit by a tentative point, but Jesualdo Ferreira is confident his side can loosen Chelsea's grip at the Estádio do Dragão, "despite all their quality, ability and class".

Jesualdo Ferreira, Porto coach
No Porto game is without pressure and our already being through to the knockout stages doesn't change that. Chelsea are the best English team, but we want to win. The points at stake will decide who wins the group. We want to play good football, put on a good show and compete with Chelsea. Although we have not played a competitive game for two weeks we have had nearly all our players available which is very unusual this season. We were able to prepare much better for this game. We have been struggling recently for good results, but this will prove we are better than we have been in our past few league games. Chelsea are doing well in the Premier League and a point ahead of us in the Champions League, but despite all their quality, ability and class I think we can beat them.

Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea manager
It is an important match, not only for first place. Porto are a strong team in the Champions League and did well at Stamford Bridge. It is a very good test because we want to show our personality on the pitch – to go forward we have to have character and quality – it will not be easy in this stadium. Carvalho and Deco will play. I want to change something, some players, and the players that did not play against Wolves will play – Ivanović, Carvalho, Deco, Ballack. I think Zhirkov can play at left-back. I don't know about Drogba, maybe he will start on the bench. He is well but I prefer to keep him on the bench.

Weekend results
21/11/09 UD Oliveirense P-P Porto (Portuguese Cup fourth round)

• A waterlogged pitch put paid to the holders' trip to second-tier Oliveirnese.

• In their previous match on 8 November Ferreira marked his 100th Liga game in charge of Porto with defeat, Rolando's first-half own goal handing CS Marítimo the points.

21/11/09 Chelsea 4-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
(Malouda 5, Essien 12 22, Joe Cole 56)

• Leaders Chelsea recorded their 1,000th home league win and a fourth 4-0 victory in seven matches in all competitions at Stamford Bridge. They have scored 24 times in that run and conceded only twice.

• It was the first time Essien had scored twice in a game since his double in former club Olympique Lyonnais' 7-2 victory over Werder Bremen in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round on 8 March 2005.

Team news
Porto
Out: Helton (foot), Fucile (thigh)
Doubtful: Valeri (ankle), Varela (thigh)
Suspended: Mariano González
Misses next match if booked: none

Chelsea
Out: José Bosingwa (knee), Frank Lampard (thigh)
Doubtful: none
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Michael Essien

Background
• It is the sixth time in seven consecutive group-stage campaigns that Porto have reached the knockout rounds. Only in 2005/06 did they fail to progress.

• For Chelsea the statistics are even better: they have a 100 per cent qualification record in the last seven campaigns, including this one. In four of the last six editions the London club finished top of their group.

Did you know?
Five Chelsea players have previously turned out for Porto: Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira (both joined in summer 2004), Henrique Hilário (July 2006), José Bosingwa and Deco (summer 2008).