Chelsea's hope of Champs League progression dampened by key suspension

Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying past the group stages took a huge blow last night as Luiz Adriano received a suspension for the final group game against Juventus, with Chelsea needing Shakhtar to claim a win.

The striker was suspended for unsporting behaviour, after chasing down a ball and rounding the keeper when the dropped ball was to be given back to the keeper because the referee stopped play for an injury.

The striker went on to score a hat-trick in the 5-2 win over FC Nordsjaelland, but the team we’re currently 1-0 down in the game when the incident happened and may have changed the game.

For Chelsea to qualify for the next round of the Champions League, they will need to win their final group game at home, along with Shakhtar to beat Juventus in Ukraine.

Adriano’s ban is just for the one game and will return for the knockout rounds.

UEFA also ordered the striker to do ‘one full day of community football service’.

The striker has played in each group game so far, and will be a big miss for Shakhtar, but with Shakhtar’s goals coming from a wide selection of players, I still feel as though they will beat Juventus in Ukraine. We just have to beat the Danes at Stamford Bridge.