Champions League

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Champions League | Group Stage

Nov 5, 2014 at 7.45pm UK

Maribor
1-1
Chelsea

Ibraimi (50')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Matic (73')

Nemanja Matic upbeat despite Chelsea setback

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 05 November 2014

Nemanja Matic insists that Chelsea will still progress to the last 16 of the Champions League as Group G winners despite Wednesday's setback against Maribor.

Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic is confident that the Blues can still win Group G in the Champions League despite tonight's frustrating 1-1 draw away to Maribor.

Matic netted an 76th-minute equaliser to cancel out Agim Ibraimi's earlier opener, before Eden Hazard missed a penalty four minutes from the end as Jose Mourinho's side were forced to accept a point in Slovenia.

However, the point saw Chelsea extend their lead over second-placed Schalke - who lost 4-2 to Sporting Lisbon - to three points, and Matic remains convinced that the Londoners will move into the last 16 as group winners.

"In the second half they scored a nice goal and with the home supporters they were stronger, but we quickly equalised for 1-1," the Serbian told UEFA.com.

"In the end we missed the penalty and some more chances, although 1-1 is an OK result for us.

"Before this game we had two points more than Schalke, now we have three. Sometimes 1-1 is a good result. I'm sure that we will use our quality in the last two games and we will stay in first position."

Chelsea travel to Gelsenkirchen in two weeks' time to face Schalke in their penultimate game of the group stage.