Juan Mata
Mata returns to Valencia Reuters

Group E, Match Day 2
Mestalla
20:45 Local Time, 19:45 BST

Chelsea face their first away match of the UEFA Champions League this evening away to in from Valencia in what should be the toughest of their Group E matches.

Valencia has started the La Liga season well and lead the chasing pack going into their opening home game against Chelsea but Valencia will be cautious of the qualities that Andre Villas-Boas' will bring to Spain.

Chelsea's match with Valencia will be the fifth time the two sides have met in the Champions League since 2007. Chelsea met Valencia four times in the 2007 Champions League, playing twice in the group stages as well as the quarter final of the competition. In the group stages Chelsea drew 0-0 at Stamford Bridge and defeated Valencia 2-1 at the Mestalla. In the quart finals of the competition Chelsea recorded a 3-2 aggregate win with a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, winning 2-1 in Spain.

Juan Mata returns to Valencia after his big money move to Chelsea in August and the Spanish side will be fully aware of the qualities the Spaniard brings. Juan Mata netted in Chelsea's first Champions League game at home to Bayer Leverkusen and after scoring 45 times in 172 appearances for Valencia, the Spaniard is set to be Chelsea's man threat.

Valencia Team News

Valencia midfielder David Albelda bruised his back against Barcelona and did not face Sevilla at the weekend, while Mehmet Topal tore a shoulder muscle in the goalless draw with Genk last time out.

Chelsea Team News

Daniel Sturridge is expected to be fit after a knee injury, Ramires is available after missing the Blues' opener against Leverkusen through suspension, but Romelu Lukaku is ineligible and Alex, Paulo Ferreira and Josh McEachran did not travel to Spain. Andre Villas-Boas will have to make a decision on whether to start Frank Lampard after starting on the bench for the last two games.

Probable Line-Ups

Valencia - Guaita, Miguel, Ruiz, Rami, Mathieu, Banega, Topal, Hernandez, Canales, Jordi Alba, Soldado

Chelsea - Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Ivanovic, Cole, Meireles, Mikel, Ramires, Anelka, Torres, Mata

Prediction: Valencia 2-2 Chelsea