Chelsea betting – Rubin need two unanswered goals to progress

Rubin Kazan had their chances at Stamford Bridge, but ended up on the plane back to Russia contemplating a 3-1 defeat which, given their tendency towards low scoring football at home, gives them little margin for error in the return leg. At 5/1 to qualify, Kurban Berdyev’s side look far better value than 1/9 Chelsea.

The away goal John Terry yielded to Rubin Kazan when he handled in the area late in the second half of the first leg will have given the Russians hope ahead of the second leg in the Republic of Tartarstan on Thursday. The two goals needed without concession looks a made tailor total for them to pursue given their home form this term.

Seven of the 10 home games in which Rubin have prevailed this term saw them do so by a two goal margin, whilst they’ve denied the visitors a goal in 10 of their 16 Tsentralnyi Stadion outings in 2012/13. Rubin are 14/1 to nick qualification by the finest of margins with a 2-0 victory.

It must be noted however that Chelsea did rip their way through that supposedly redoubtable defence on three first leg occasions and could have scored more, but 11 of Rubin’s last 13 home games have limboed the 2.5 goals barrier so the hosts are sure to be less permeable in Kazan. Coral go 8/13 about less than 2.5 goals being scored.

The Blues’ away form provides a stark contrast to their performances at the Bridge (where they’ve won nine of their last 10), with just two wins in their last 10 road games. They’ve been denied a goal on three of those occasions.

Man City await Chelsea at the weekend in a match that could see the South London side give themselves a serious chance of pinching the Citizens league silver medal with a win. With their rotation-addict manager Rafael Benitez in the Blues’ interim hot seat and a two goal first leg lead in the bag it’s hard not to foresee a less than full-strength line-up taking the field on Thursday night.