MATCH FACTS -The last time Zamalek met a team from Ghana was in 2000 when they lost 2-0 to Hearts of Oak in the African Super Cup. -Zamalek's all-time heaviest defeat in Africa came at the hands Ghana's Asante Kotoko, who thrashed the Whites 5-1 in memorable Champions League quarter-final in 1987. -Current Zamalek assistant manager Ismail Youssef and goalkeeping coach Ayman Taher both played in the forgettable defeat in Kumasi. -Zamalek suffered defeat against all Ghanaian teams they've met before, including Kotoko, Ashanti Gold and Hearts. -In six previous Champions League matches, Chelsea have only conceded one goal in an away game, while managing to keep a clean sheet in every home game so far. -The match takes place at the 40,000-seat Accra Sports Stadium; the venue that witnessed Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations triumph against Cameroon in 2008. -Senegalese ref Badara Diatta will be in charge, one week after he had presided over Egypt's CAN 2013 qualifier against Central African Republic in Bangui. -The game signals the opening of Group B, which includes three former champions in Ahli, Mazembe and Zamalek, unlike Chelsea who are making their continental debut. QUOTES Chelsea manager Hans van der Pluijm "We are hoping to win and win convincingly. We can only achieve that by taking our chances. Also, we want to begin our campaign on a good note, by grabbing all the three points.
"Big names do not win football matches, big hearts do. We will give it our best shot." Chelsea star Emmanuel Clottey “I am ready to bang in the goals. There is no pressure on me or the team. It is more or less like playing against Kotoko or Hearts of Oak. “I am the leading goal scorer in the competition at the moment, and so my wish is to score more goals to win the Golden Boot." Zamalek manager Hassan Shehata “I promise Zamalek fans we'll do our best to win against Chelsea in order to keep on going in Africa." TEAM NEWS Zamalek will be without suspended trio Ahmed Hassan, Razak Omotoyossi and Salah Soliman. Burkina Faso striker Abdoulaye Cisse could make his debut for the Whites as newly-signed Egypt keeper Ahmed Al-Shennawi is also in the squad. Shikabala, who has been Zamalek's star player for the past few years, will be watching from home after he had been left out of the team's squad following his infamous rift with Shehata. Chelsea boss van der Pluijm could be making several changes to the side that beat Kotoko in the Ghana President Cup last week. The Blues welcome back inspirational captain Abdul-Basit Mohamed as well as prolific goalscorer Clottey. Solomon Asante and Richard Kissi Boateng are also notable returnees expected to start, but key defender Eric Agyemang is suspended.
