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Rafael Benitez highlights Rubin Kazan threat

Benitez highlights Rubin threat
© PA Photos
Rafael Benitez says that Rubin Kazan are a well-balanced team as his Chelsea side prepare for this evening's Europa League quarter-final first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez has pinpointed Rubin Kazan's counter-attacking threat ahead of tonight's Europa League clash at Stamford Bridge.

The Russian outfit travel to West London for the first leg of their quarter-final tie having disposed of Atletico Madrid and Levante in the previous rounds.

"They are a well-organised team," the Spaniard told reporters. "They are comfortable defending and playing counter-attack, so they can score goals away.

"They have pace in attack, ability in the wide areas, good passers in the middle and strong defenders, so it is a team with good balance.

"It will be tough and it will be important to score and play well tomorrow but if we cannot, in the second leg we can score goals."

This evening's match will be the third in the space of five days, and Benitez is thankful that it is not being held in Russia.

"I can't see a big difference between playing home or away, but in this case I prefer to play at home because we have so many games at the moment, to go to Moscow could have been another problem," he added.

The second leg will take place next Thursday.

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Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez gestures from the sideline during his side's match with West Brom on March 2, 2013
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