Mourinho hoping for Costa goals against Sporting Lisbon

The pressure is lifted on Chelsea. Jose Mourinho said they wouldn’t go through an entire season unbeaten, and now, having lost against Newcastle 2-1 last time out, they can now focus on winning trophies.

Next up, having already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, by topping Group G, the Blues face Sporting Lisbon at Stamford Bridge, and are odds-on at 4/5 with Coral to win the match.

Chelsea are 9/4 to win by two or more goals, and having beaten them 1-0 in Portugal previously, with the strike coming courtesy of Serbian midfield enforcer Nemanja Matic, and he could be welcomed back into the fold, following his domestic suspension and has odds of 7/1 to net anytime.

Although Diego Costa has taken the Premier League by storm this season, he is yet to have much luck in Europe, having played four matches and not scored. It has, instead, fallen upon veteran and fans favourite Didier Drogba to take up the scoring mantle and he along with Eden Hazard, captain John Terry and Matic have netted twice so far.

The Ivorian is 4/1 to break the deadlock, while Hazard, who bagged a brace against Maribor in Chelsea’s last home European match, is 9/1 to equal or better that accomplishment.

Regarding Costa though, Mourinho has said the striker will start scoring again once he improves his fitness.

“For me, the problem is not the goals – they will come as a consequence of his condition,” Mourinho said, on Costa, who is 3/1 to open the scoring against Sporting Lisbon. “He has to improve his condition. He was injured and had many doubts because he went a long time without training.