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Chelsea in scrap

Bolton Wanderers' Gary Cahill (R) challenges Chelsea's Salomon Kalou during their English Premier League soccer match in Bolton December 6, 2008. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN). NO ONLINE/INTERNET USAGE WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM THE FOOTBALL DATA CO LTD. FOR LICENCE ENQUIRIES PLEASE TELEPHONE ++44 (0) 207 864 9000.
Bolton Wanderers' Gary Cahill (R) challenges Chelsea's Salomon Kalou during their English Premier League soccer match in Bolton December 6, 2008. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN). NO ONLINE/INTERNET USAGE WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM THE FOOTBALL DATA CO LTD. FOR LICENCE ENQUIRIES PLEASE TELEPHONE ++44 (0) 207 864 9000.

LONDON - The final three spots in the second round of the Champions League will be filled after this week's final round of group matches, with Chelsea unexpectedly among those still trying to qualify.

LONDON - The final three spots in the second round of the Champions League will be filled after this week's final round of group matches, with Chelsea unexpectedly among those still trying to qualify.

With 13 clubs already through to the next round, a haul of just one point from two matches has left Chelsea vying with AS Roma and Bordeaux for one of Group A's top two spots.

The Blues are under pressure because of their curious home form this season, with a first Premier League loss in four years at Stamford Bridge swiftly followed by a second.

But Chelsea have at least managed to win both their home matches in the Champions League and host FCR Cluj tonight hoping the Romanian club's inability to advance itself makes it an easy opponent.

Chelsea's Champions League form has been almost the total reverse of that in the Premier League, where their perfect away record has compensated for shaky home form to leave them second in the standings.

Bordeaux need victory at a Roma team that needs only a draw to be sure.

Roma have rallied from a dismal start to the season with four straight Serie A wins, the last of which was secured Saturday by forward Jeremy Menez's first club goal for a 1-0 win over last-placed Chievo Verona.

Roma is the only Italian team unsure of its status in the competition, with Inter Milan and Juventus already sure to advance.

But although Inter have won six straight in Serie A and top Group B, coach Jose Mourinho will be hoping his team can produce a strong performance at Werder Bremen tonight to finally mark the club out as a genuine contender.

The Nerazzurri needed a late equalizer to draw 3-3 with Anorthosis Famagusta and were beaten 1-0 by Panathinaikos in their last outing. The Greek team needs only to draw with visiting Anorthosis to join Inter in the next round. - Sapa-AP

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