Kick-off: 18.30
(live @ Sky Calcio 2)
Stamford Bridge


Chelsea FC
(1st)
v
Newcastle
United
(6th)



Chelsea currently sit on top of the Premier League for the first time since November 2010 after a faultless start to the 2012/13 campaign, with two wins from two. The Blues had to come from behind to beat Reading in midweek and Di Matteo will be looking for his team to tighten up at the back, especially against top strikers Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba. Cisse's wonder goal last season helped to give Newcastle a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge but they face a tough task to repeat that feat. Alan Pardew's side on Thursday made a gruelling trip to Greece in a sweltering Europa League 1-1 draw against Atromitos. The Magpies rested nine first-team players but Pardew will still be concerned about how his squad will cope with the fixture congestion of Europe, which is something they did not have to deal with when finishing above Chelsea in last season's table.


• Eden Hazard has won more penalties in the top five European Leagues than any other player since the start of last season (8).
• Papiss Demba Cisse has scored 13 goals in 15 Premier League games for Newcastle, but he has gone three games without a goal since netting a brace against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

John Terry is a doubt for Saturday's match with the neck injury he sustained in Wednesday's victory against Reading. Roberto Di Matteo could therefore name David Luiz, who faces a late fitness test on his knee injury, and Gary Cahill in the centre of defence. Marko Marin is again ruled out with his hamstring injury.
P Cech • B Ivanovic, G Cahill, D Luiz, A Cole • J Obi Mikel, F Lampard • Ramires, E Hazard, JM Mata • F Torres
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew will make late checks on skipper Fabricio Coloccini and striker Demba Ba. The pair were among nine men who missed or were rested for the 1-1 Europa League play-off draw at Atromitos last night, the Argentinian with a thigh problem and the Senegal international with a sore shin. Pardew is hoping both will be fit after training in London this evening, although Cheick Tiote and Shola Ameobi remain doubts.
T Krul • D Simpson, S Taylor, F Coloccini, D Santon • C Tiotè, Y Cabaye • H Ben Arfa, J Gutierrez, D Ba • P Cissè