Chelsea play Newcastle United tonight, in a game that will go a long way to deciding whether either team will play in Europe next season. Just one point separate the two teams, and just three games remain.Of course, later in the month, should Chelsea triumph at the Allianz Arena, they will qualify for the Champions League anyway, meaning only the top three qualify for next years competition.
Newcastle are sitting level with Spurs in 4th, and are four points behind third place Arsenal, both with a game in hand, which is what makes it all more important for the Toon.
The sides come into this match on the back of contrasting results, Chelsea demolishing QPR by 6 goals to 1, whilst Toon we’re beaten 4-0 by a Wigan side scrapping at the bottom of the league. They had been on a fantastic run of six straight league wins, before the loss at Wigan, which manager Alan Pardew will hope is only a slight blip.
Chelseas certainly have the edge in recent games, unbeaten in their last nine versus the Magpies, and you have to go back to 1986 to when they were last victors in the league here, although did win an enthralling Carling Cup game here 4-3 in 2010.
Both No.9s are also in good form, Torres scored a hat-trick in that demolition of QPR, and Papiss Cisse had scored in six consecutive games until the weekend.
It is set to be a very exciting game, and we spoke ahead of it to lifelong Newcastle fan David Watkin, a.k.a @captain_retro, on his thoughts on his sides season, and Wednesdays clash.
Hi David, firstly, who has been Newcastles best player this season in your opinion?
I would say Coloccini. He has been very solid all season, but gets overlooked by most because of Demba Ba, but for consistency, Coloccini for me.
Ok, if you could take one player from the Chelsea side to put in the Newcastle set-up, who would it be, and why?
It would have to be Ashley Cole, it is our weakest position at the moment, and in my opinion, Cole is still one of the best left-backs in the world.
Where do you think Newcastle will finish the season, especially as it so tight at the moment?
My heart says we will finish 4th, but looking at the fixtures, my head says 6th, as we have three very hard games to come.
What do you think the score will be on Wednesday, and who will score?
Im going with Chelsea 1 (Sturridge) Newcastle 1 (Ben Arfa). It will be a very tough game, but I expect Chelsea will have one eye on the FA Cup Final, as well as the Champions League final this month.
Thanks again to David for his time, you can catch the game on Wednesday evening, it is a 1945GMT kick off.
By Brad Smith