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Premier League | Stamford Bridge | Wednesday 2nd May 2012 | 19:45 GMT
In my opinion, this match is another big one. Chelsea are on an incredible run, coming from almost as low a position as a club like Liverpool are currently experiencing, but due to a change in manager, Roberto Di Matteo is able to galvinise the qualities of new, talented players, like Juan Mata and Fernando Torres, with older heads. Using the experience that Andre Villas-Boas neglected, the drive from Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, and John Terry has been invaluable in putting Chelsea on the brink of collecting their first Champions League trophy; hauling their team up to within a point of fourth-placed Tottenham has also been no easy task.
However, Newcastle can undo all that good work later today. Much to everyone's surprise, Alan Pardew has been the outstanding English candidate of the season, and his Newcastle side has been brilliant to watch, too. If they manage to cause an upset against a rejuvinated Chelsea team, I'd say not too many eyebrows would be raised. Few would be surprised if their winning goal comes from a curling, in-swinging cross, delivered by the wonderfully in form Hatem Ben Arfa, only to be met by goal-hungry Papiss Cisse, the Magpies' new number nine hero.
Success or failure here will surely impact the next fixture for both clubs, and, with that, perhaps the title race itself. Chelsea's next match is to take on Liverpool at Anfield, a notoriously difficult place to go, with some bad blood between the two sets of fans, so a good victory against Newcastle will set them well on their travels, and set up what would be another highly anticipated game. Newcastle will host Manchester City, the Magpies have been strong at St James' Park this season, and City have been quite poor, but it will be a must-win match for Roberto Mancini's men if they are to deliver the title to their supporters this month, since Manchester United will be all too keen to take advantage of any further slip-up. Putting mindgames to one side, Mancini isn't exactly wrong in his assessment, Alex Ferguson's United still have the slightly better two-game run. In terms of points, Swansea are closer to QPR (ten) than Sunderland are to Newcastle (17), with the clubs from the north-east being much tougher. So, it could be said that United still have the easier matches.
All that nonsense won't bother Chelsea or Newcastle, though. There is a top four place up for grabs. Newcastle want entry into Europe's biggest competition for the first time since 2004, while Chelsea want a safety net just in case they don't quite manage winning it in Munich.
Best of luck to both teams.
