(AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Chelsea can advance with win at Atletico Madrid

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS,

MADRID (AP) Chelsea can advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League with a win at Atletico Madrid, a team still looking for its first victory in this season's competition.

Chelsea leads Group D with nine points from three games, all won without conceding a goal. Atletico has only one point and has yet to score a goal in its three matches.

Coming off a 1-0 loss at Athletic Bilbao, new Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores must find a solution to the Spanish club's woes before the team faces Real Madrid four days after Chelsea's visit.

Atletico has won only twice in 13 games this season and, although the chances are slight, a win against Chelsea could be significant.

"It could be a positive thing to play these two matches," said Sanchez Flores, who was coach of Valencia in the 2007 quarterfinals when that team lost to Chelsea. "If we win these two matches it will be a lifeline in both competitions and it would also be good for the players from a psychological perspective."

Despite fielding Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero in attack, Atletico has yet to score a goal. Team changes from Saturday's 1-0 loss at Athletic Bilbao can be expected, according to Sanchez Flores on Monday.

Chelsea, however, has Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka. Drogba has scored nine league goals to help Chelsea to a two-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.

"We're playing well as a unit. Clean sheets are a testament to the whole team defending well and the goals show we are playing well," Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said. "We know there are big games all over. We are going well in the Champions League and go into that with a good state of mind."

Chelsea beat Bolton 4-0 Saturday with Drogba scoring. Although the Ivory Coast striker is available for the first time since a three-match ban, a leg worry could sideline him at the Vicente Calderon stadium.

"At this moment we are playing very well," said Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti, who team faces Manchester United on Sunday.

Chelsea beat Atletico 4-0 in London two weeks ago, a result that led to the firing of coach Abel Resino.

Sanchez Flores was looking for a result as much for morale as for the group standings, since the club can still finish third and earn a place in the Europa League. Atletico, which reached the knockout stages last season, and APOEL Nicosia both have one point.

"We are ambitious and aim to be playing in three competitions after Christmas," the Spanish coach said. "The Europa league could still be good."

Updated November 2, 2009