sport

Steaua v Chelsea preview

Fernando Torres is set to start up front for Chelsea at Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League last-16 first leg on Thursday as Demba Ba is ineligible having represented Newcastle earlier in the competition.

Rafael Benitez will likely give due consideration to Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester United in his team selection, but captain John Terry may start in central defence and midfielder Yossi Benayoun is available again following an ankle problem which kept him out of the defeat of West Brom.

Like Ba, Victor Moses and Ramires did not travel with the squad as Benitez rotates his options, while Oriol Romeu (knee) remains a long-term absentee.

Steaua's only absentee for the game is Stefan Nikolic, who must undergo surgery on a long-standing knee problem.

Laurentiu Reghencampf's side are eight points clear at the top of the Romanian league and their only loss in their last seven games was the first leg with Ajax, at the Amsterdam Arena where the Europa League final will be held in May.

Reghencampf said: "Each of our players know what they have to do and I believe we can qualify. The players are in good physical shape and are very prepared. Of course, there are two matches and everything will be decided in London."

Update:

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