Goal.com asks who manager Roberto Di Matteo should choose to lead the line on Tuesday night as the Blues look to hold on to their slender advantage and book a place in the final
POLL
Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona is the culmination of a season-defining nine days for Chelsea.
Starting with a thumping 5-1 win over Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final, the Blues changed tact with a highly commendable defensive performance to grab a 1-0 win against Pep Guardiola’s side in the first leg. They then went on to keep their Premier League top-four hopes alive with a 0-0 draw at Arsenal on Sunday.
Didier Drogba started and featured heavily in both cup competition games, scoring in each tie, and is expected to continue against Barcelona on Tuesday after being left out of the matchday squad at the weekend.
The 34-year-old’s ability to hold up the ball when facing Barcelona’s attacking fluidity was crucial in the first leg, and could also prove vital as Chelsea try to extend their lead away from home.
Fernando Torres deputised in the Ivorian’s absence and played reasonably well at the Emirates Stadium, displaying energy and excellent work ethic, but never managed to carve out a real chance as Chelsea found themselves defending for much of the match.
But does the Spaniard deserve a chance to continue his fine goalscoring run against Barcelona? The former Atletico Madrid striker scored seven times in 10 appearances against the Blaugrana before his switch to England in 2007.
Or, if both strikers have strong reasons to lead the line alone on Tuesday night, why not start the pair together? There is the possibility of Chelsea going 4-4-2 or having Torres coming in from a wide position in order to have the best of both worlds.
Di Matteo could even drop both to the bench and opt for a defensive-minded approach, with the likes of Kalou and Mata supporting Daniel Sturridge in a deep front three.
What do you think is the best approach for Di Matteo?
HAVE YOUR SAY
Who do you think will lead the line against Barcelona on Tuesday night? Let us know by voting and leaving a comment below, or getting in touch via our Facebook or on Twitter @GoalUK.
