Failure to beat Danish club Nordsjaelland on Wednesday night will result in Chelsea becoming the first holders of the Champions League to exit the competition at the group stages.

Even a victory may not be enough for the Blues to qualify because if Juventus avoid defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine, the Italian champions will advance at the expense of Rafael Benitez's team.

With a win a necessity, Benitez is expected to name a strong starting lineup for the clash. That means that the likes of Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard are all likely to feature from the beginning.

However, their home record against clubs from Denmark has not been great. In their last two outings at Stamford Bridge, both against FC Copenhagen, the Blues failed to record a victory - drawing on both occasions.

They do not head into this match in the best of form either, having not won any of their last six matches.

Incidentally, should Juventus win through, Chelsea will still have European football next year in the shape of the Europa League.

Recent form

Chelsea: LDDLL

Nordsjaelland: WLLWD

Possible starting lineups:

Chelsea: Cech; Cole, Luiz, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Romeu; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres

Nordsjaelland: Hansen; Parkhurst, Gundelach, Runje, Stokholm; Beckmann, Ticinovic, Christiansen, Laudrup; Adu, John

Sports Mole says: 3-0

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