It's the one football fans, most especially Chelsea followers, have been waiting weeks for - the return 'home' of the Special One, and the visit of Inter Milan, who stand in the way of Chelsea and a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
It's sure to be an incredible night down at the Bridge, with the emotions running high as Chelsea welcome back the most successful manager in their history.
Jose Mourinho is guaranteed to get a hero's reception on his return to West London, in recognition of the back-to-back league titles, FA and Carling Cups notched up in his three-year reign.
The way in which he left the club, in September 2007, meant the supporters never got the chance to say goodbye, or a proper thank you for all his success, so tonight will see an outpouring of gratitude from the Stamford Bridge terraces to the former manager.
However, once that first whistle is blown, Inter and Mourinho will be opponents, and Chelsea has got a great chance of making the last-eight once again. All eyes on the prize, as they say, once the game is underway.
There are 3 key areas to watch in this match and which arguably can decide the game.
1. ESTEBAN CAMBIASSO v NICOLAS ANELKA:
Argentina international Esteban Cambiasso will be charged with breaking up Chelsea's attacks. The defensive midfielder is deployed in the holding role that Coach Jose Mourinho favours. Anelka is more than likely to find himself playing just behind main striker Didier Drogba and that will put him up against the combative 29-year-old. Anelka has enjoyed a superb season so far for the Blues but the France international will have to be at his very best to win this personal.
2. SULLEY MUNTARI v FRANK LAMPARD:
Mourinho tried to sign Lampard from Chelsea when he left Stamford Bridge but having failed in his attempt to lure the Englishman away from his former club, the 'Special One' went for next best thing - Pompey's Muntari. The pair have not always seen eye-to-eye at Inter but Mourinho certainly rates him as a player. Hard-running, with flair to match his engine, Muntari will provide Lampard with a stiff test.
3. GORAN PANDEV v JOHN TERRY:
Terry, at fault for both goals in the 2-1 defeat against Everton in the Barclays Premier League earlier this month, will have to be back to his very best to cope with 26-year-old Macedonia striker Pandev. He signed a five-year deal with Inter last month after having his contract with Lazio terminated. He made an instant impact and if Terry is still feeling any effects of his off-the-field problems, then he will find little sympathy from Pandev.
Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted Tuesday night�s Champions League clash between Chelsea and Inter is hard to call, but feels Blues� striker Didier Drogba may prove the difference between the two sides.
The last-16 tie is intriguingly poised with the Italian champions bringing a 2-1 lead to Stamford Bridge, yet having grabbed an away goal Chelsea will feel confident they can also progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.
Meanwhile, Ferguson predicts it will be a very tough game for the hosts particularly against their tactically astute former manager Jose Mourinho.
�Inter versus Chelsea is a real big one. Chelsea are hard to beat at Stamford Bridge but it is a good Inter team - an improved Inter team and Jose [Mourinho] will have them well organised,� he told the Sunday People.
�It won't be an easy game for Chelsea. I think Jose has Inter playing now as he wants, it's his team. He has changed the system and they are not bad.�
The Scot then moved on to highlight how Drogba could make the difference and explained how his brute strength could cause chaos in Inter�s rearguard.
"For me, it will rest on how they handle [Didier] Drogba. They don't have a great deal of height at the back...They have Lucio, who is a reasonable size, but [Walter] Samuel is not big,� he added.
"He's only about 5ft 9ins or so. He's tough, but not particularly big, so Drogba's size could be a problem."
"Team News"
VITAL QUOTES:
Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, has been commenting on how he feels the tie will be decided by how his team perform.
'We know....we have to do our best, show better organisation, show better concentration than Inter and we are sure we will win if we do this,' he said.
'It will be difficult because Inter is a very strong team but if we do this we can win.'
The Italian also commented on the homecoming to Stamford Bridge of opposite number Jose Mourinho,
'For Mourinho it will be a special evening and I think also the fans will give him a very good reception, he deserves to have this, but the match will be another thing.'
'The players are not involved in this. All the Chelsea players and Inter players are focused on this game, an important game, and other things they are not interested in.'
And, despite their reported feuds with one another, Ancelotti claimed he'd be open for having a post-match drink with the Special One.
'For sure if Mourinho wants a glass of wine after the game we can have a good conversation. This will happen regardless of the result.'
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS:
Chelsea go into this crucial second leg clash without a string of first team regulars. Goalkeepers Petr Cech and Henrique Hilario both miss out, confirmed Ancelotti, so Ross Turnbull will continue between the sticks,
'Turnbull played well on Saturday, he is confident and we have a lot of faith in him. There is no question whatsoever of taking a risk on Cech or Hilario. Cech didn't train so it is impossible he will play tomorrow.'
'We'll play Turnbull. On the bench will stay [Rhys] Taylor, like on Saturday...Cech has more experience than Ross Turnbull but Ross is young and has enthusiasm to want to play. For him it will be a great, great experience.'
Elsewhere, the manager has ruled Ricardo Carvalho fit to feature, after a tight hamstring niggle kept him out of the derby win over West Ham on Saturday.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Didier Drogba
The Ivorian striker has been in top form this season, hitting 27 goals already, including three in the Champions League.
Invariably, when he's on form, so is the team, and he'll be determined to put the ghost of last season's late defeat to Barcelona behind him.
INTER MILAN TEAM NEWS:
Inter are reportedly set to be without Thiago Motta (thigh), Marko Arnautovic (flu) and, according to reports, Mario Ballotelli (knee).
PLAYER TO WATCH: Diego Milito
Inter's top scorer, with 15 goals this season, has already proved he's a threat, grabbing the 3rd-minute opener at the San Siro three weeks ago. JT and Co. will have to do a better job on him if Chelsea hopes to progress.
MATCH FACTS & STATS:
Inter come into this crucial second leg clash on the back of a humiliating 3-1 defeat to lowly Chievo at the weekend. Interestingly, Jose Mourinho is yet to lose back-to-back games as Inter boss.
Going into the game, Chelsea's form is marginally better, with three wins and two defeats from their last five games, including that 2-1 deficit in Milan.
Inter have won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five.
Source: VitalChelsea/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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