We continue our weekly reports detailing Chelsea’s Champions League opponents’ results and form.
Every week we will take a look at how Chelsea’s Champions League opponents have fared in their domestic competitions, giving fans a hint of what to expect in the build-up to the matches that will take place in the coming months.
Schalke:
The German side warmed up for their visit to Stamford Bridge with a 2-0 victory away to Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
Adam Szalai scored in the 26th minute, heading in Dennis Aogo’s cross at the near post. And 1-0 was how the game stayed until deep into second-half injury-time, when Julian Draxler doubled the visitors’ lead with a 20-yard shot.
The result means Schalke are sixth in the Bundesliga, with Hertha two points and one place below them.
Steaua Bucharest:
The Romanian side remained top of their domestic league despite only drawing 1-1 away to Corona Brasov.
The hosts took the lead courtesy of an own goal from Steaua defender Lukasz Szukala. But the champions equalised three minutes into the second-half, when they were awarded a penalty, dispatched by Nicolae Stanciu.
Steaua are now four points clear at the top of Liga 1, with a game in hand over second-place Petrolul Ploiesti.
FC Basel:
The Swiss side continued their recent tradition of drawing as they could only match the opposition for their third consecutive game.
This time it was a 1-1 draw away to Aarau, a result that means they are now just two points clear of second-place Grasshoppers.
But it was almost considerably worse for the league leaders, with only a stoppage-time equaliser from Marco Streller preventing an unlikely defeat.
Linus Hallenius put the home side ahead after 50 minutes, and with the final whistle fast approaching it was Streller’s 93rd-minute rescue act that saved Basel’s blushes, along with a point.
See also: Chelsea to use striker sale to fund move for ex-United target
image: © andyjakeman
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