MATCH PREVIEW: CARDIFF CITY V CHELSEA

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium 

Date: Sunday, 11th May, KO 3pm 

Match-tag: #CARCHE (Live tweets on @CardiffCityFC) 

Cardiff City take on third place Chelsea at Cardiff City Stadium on the final day of the Barclays Premier League season. 

- Cardiff City have not beaten Chelsea at home in the league since February 1963, drawing one and losing four since.

- Samuel Eto’o scored his first Premier League goal in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge.

- Samuel Eto’o is yet to score away from home in any competition for the Blues, with all 12 of his goals for Chelsea coming at Stamford Bridge.

- Chelsea have won 79 points in 37 games this season and regardless of the result in this match, it’ll be Jose Mourinho’s lowest points tally while in charge of a full season at the Blues.

- Chelsea have conceded a league-low 10 goals in the first half of matches this season.

- Frank Lampard has scored against 38 different clubs in the Premier League; a record that he shares with Andrew Cole. He is yet to score against Cardiff City in the competition, however.

- Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games to be played on a Sunday, winning 13 and drawing two.

Fleet-footed Belgian International Eden Hazard has been Chelsea’s most potent threat in front of goal this campaign, scoring 14 goals in the Premier League this campaign to top the scoring charts. The 23-year-old provides the creative spark to an industrial Mourinho midfield.

With many Chelsea records to his name, the Blues’ talisman could make Premier League history this afternoon should he score against the Bluebirds to become the first ever player to score against 39 different clubs in the Premier League. The 35-year-old continues to play a pivotal role at Stamford Bridge making 40 appearances in all competitions this season.

Cardiff City suffered the bitter disappointment of relegation from the Barclays Premier League after a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St James' Park coupled an away victory for survival rivals Sunderland at Old Trafford.

Team - Cardiff City: Marshall; Fabio (Eikrem 86), Caulker (C), Turner, John; Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Kim (Bellamy 45), Mutch, Zaha; Campbell (Jones 72). Subs not used: Lewis; Cowie, McNaughton, Berget.

      

Last time out: Chelsea 0-0 Norwich City – Sunday 4th May, Barclays Premier League. 

Despite a dominant performance by the Blues Jose Mourinho’s side couldn’t break down a resilient Norwich side as the game ended goalless at Stamford Bridge.   

Team – Chelsea: Schwarzer, Terry, Cahill, Cole, Ivanovic, Salah (Hazard, 45), Lampard (Luiz, 45), Willian, Matic (Torres, 73), Schurrle, Ba. Subs not used: van Ginkel, Eto'o, Hilario, Kalas.  

 

Jordon Mutch gave the Bluebirds an early lead at Stamford Bridge before three second half goals from Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o and Oscar secured the three points for Chelsea.

Teams - Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, D Luiz, Terry (c), Bertrand (Torres 64); Ramires, Lampard; Willian, Mata (Oscar 59), Hazard; Eto’o (Azpilicueta 69). Subs not used: Schwarzer, Cahill, Essien, De Bruyne.

Cardiff City: Marshall; Taylor, Caulker (C), Turner, Whittingham, Medel (Kim 56), Odemwingie (Campbell 67), Gunnarsson (Gestede 80), Mutch, Cowie, Theophile-Catherine. Subs not used: Lewis, Hudson, Noone, Maynard.

At just 25 years of age, Michael Oliver became the youngest referee in Premier League history when he took charge of Birmingham City’s clash with Blackburn Rovers in August 2010, and he has remained a top flight official ever since.

In 2012, his quick progress was rewarded as he was elevated to the FIFA list of referees, making him now eligible to take charge of fixtures in the Champions League and Europa League, as well as UEFA internationals. His father, Clive, was a former Football League referee.