PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: FC NORDSJAELLAND V CHELSEA - PART TWO
Continuing the Champions League build-up they began earlier today, club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton add more tactics and statistics...
TACTICAL BRIEF
The kings of Europe aim to make it four wins in four competitive visits to the seat of Europe's oldest monarchy.
Key battles
Tactically there are several similarities between the two sides. Both use a 4-2-3-1 system, cherish possession and press their opponent high up the pitch.
Coach Kasper Hjulmand was assistant to Morten Wieghorst (once of Celtic, now with Denmark's U21s) as FCN won the Danish Cup two season running, 2010 and 2011, before going one better and scooping the Superliga last May.
He likes to play an open, attacking style, but is a rookie at this level - as was his Chelsea counterpart Roberto Di Matteo, until March. We know how that story ended.
There is a greater gulf in experience at this level on the field. None of FCN's squad had played in the Champions League before Matchday 1 in Ukraine.
They also lost two of their best players in the summer: central defender Anders Bjelland was sold to FC Twente and attacking midfielder Tobias Mikkelsen is now playing for newly promoted German Bundesliga side Greuther Furth.
Never the less, the hosts have several current or former internationals, including the captain and midfield dynamo Nikolai Stokholm, current Danish centre-back Jores Okore, former international teammate and Malaga left-back Patrick Mtiliga, and three offensive players Mikkel Beckmann, Kasper Lorentzen and Morten Nordstrand, all with a number of caps under their belts. Michael Parkhurst, who can play anywhere across the back four, has played 14 times for the USA since 2007.
Although not a regular in the starting XI, another famous name in the squad is that of under-21 creative midfielder Andreas Laudrup (pictured below) - son of Swansea manager Laudrup, and nephew of former Chelsea winger Brian Laudrup.
FCN rarely adapt to opponents' tactics, playing a possession-based attacking game, some distance from the park-the-bus approach fans might expect from Champions League underdogs.
Since Stokholm, now 36, is the midfield fulcrum, it is possible Roberto Di Matteo will ask Oscar to reprise the job he performed against Juventus's Pirlo and Arteta of Arsenal.
By turning play over in FCN's half, the young Brazilian has the chance to exploit gaps in their new centre-back partnership or behind their gallivanting full-backs; he scored twice against Juventus, of course. However, he has been booked in his two Premier League starts and needs to be careful about fouls conceded.
Oscar has been part of a pacy, quick-witted attacking midfield three behind Fernando Torres, alongside Juan Mata, Eden Hazard or Victor Moses. FCN may find their fluidity and pace difficult to handle.
We saw Ramires on the left of centre midfield against Wolves, a position he retained at Emirates, with Mikel back as opposed to the equally excellent Oriol Romeu. Frank Lampard played no part against Arsenal and may be recalled.
A key threat from the hosts is Joshua John, a fast, wide left forward on loan from FC Twente. Whether it is Branislav Ivanovic or César Azpilicueta at right back they will be aware that John likes to cut inside onto his right-foot or sneak in behind to attack the goal. He is his side's top scorer.
Lone striker Beckmann has a fine shot and usually handles FCN's set plays. On Saturday, Juan Mata scored Chelsea's first direct free kick in the league since the 2010/11 season.
Squad news
Daniel Sturridge's hamstring makes him the only player injured and unavailable. David Luiz has overcome the blow the thigh that ended his our at Arsenal prematurely. The Danes have no injuries.
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