Rubin Kazan vs Chelsea April 11, 2013

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Chelsea can take a step closer to becoming only the fourth side to win all three of UEFA’s major club competitions by cementing a place in the Europa League semi-finals when they travel to Rubin Kazan on Thursday.

Only Juventus, Ajax and Bayern Munich can count Champions League, Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Cup triumphs among their list of honours, but Chelsea are well positioned to add their name to that elite group as they head to Russia with a 3-1 advantage from the first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Rubin Kazan vs Chelsea

Thursday's fixture will see them return to the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, the setting for their UEFA Champions League final defeat to Manchester United in 2008.

Rubin will be hoping to inflict more continental heartache on the Blues in midweek, with it important for them to burst out of the blocks and strike early.

Two goals would be enough to see them through, with an away goal already in the bag, and their defensive record bodes well in their quest to claim a clean sheet.

Rubin have secured seven shut-outs in this season's Europa League - a joint-competition-high alongside Newcastle.
The 23-year-old is too ill to travel, giving Nathan Ake, 18, an opportunity to make his second Blues start. Gary Cahill, who had knee surgery at the weekend, joins Cole on the sidelines while Demba Ba is cup-tied. Midfielder Oriol Romeu is not expected to play again this season after suffering a knee injury in December. Chelsea take a two-goal advantage to Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium after a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge that featured two goals from Fernando Torres.