London: Facing nine matches in December, Chelsea can ensure at least one is meaningless by securing Champions League qualification on Tuesday.
That's if the team can avoid another setback against FC Basel, which stunned the London club in the Group E opener by winning at Stamford Bridge.
Victory in Switzerland on Tuesday would secure first place and a spot in the knockout round for Chelsea, a year after the side under Rafa Benitez missed out. Schalke can clinch second place with a game to spare by winning at Steaua Bucharest.
Here are five things to know about the Group E matches:
FAMILIAR FACES
FC Basel and Chelsea have become familiar foes, facing each other on Tuesday for the fourth time in seven months.
Chelsea won 2-1 last season in Basel, with David Luiz's stoppage-time winner making the difference. Basel responded with a 2-1 victory in London in September, giving Chelsea's its first and only home loss in a Champions League group match.
The Swiss champions have failed to win either of their home matches in the group, losing 1-0 to Schalke and needing a stoppage-time goal to draw 1-1 with Steaua Bucharest.
Basel can be eliminated with a loss, if Schalke also win at last-place Steaua, and even a victory could only be enough to remain in third place ahead of the final round of matches.
CHELSEA BOUYANT
A victory in Basel would allow Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to shift his focus to the Premier League for the next two months or so before the knockout phase of the Champions League begins.
Chelsea are only four points behind leader Arsenal and the London rivals face each other next month in the congested December program.
"We are going to try to win and kill," Mourinho said. "We have so many matches in December that if we can have one less - and the one less is the crucial match against Steaua - it would be a help."
FIFA VIRUS
Basel have been a victim of what the Spanish call the "FIFA virus" - losing players who return injured from international duty.
Chile midfielder Marcelo Diaz has a broken rib and is expected to miss the final two Champions League matches and return for Basel in February after the midwinter break.
Diaz was initially injured facing an England team that included Chelsea duo Frank Lampard and Gary Cahill during a 2-0 win at Wembley Stadium on Nov. 15, and aggravated the problem four days later in Chile's 2-1 loss against Brazil in Toronto.
EARLY DECISION?
Schalke are hoping to avoid an all-or-nothing showdown on the final matchday in Basel and would welcome some help from Chelsea. If Schalke beat Steaua in Bucharest and Chelsea beat Basel at the same time, Schalke will be through to the knockout stage.
"We should avoid having to play the decisive match in Basel and that's why we need to win in Bucharest," Schalke general manager Horst Heldt said.
Schalke will be without goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand, who sustained a hip injury in the 3-3 draw in Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Instead, Ralf Faehrmann will get his Champions League debut. Faehrmann has played only one Bundesliga game this season, although originally he was supposed to be the No. 1 goalkeeper.
Attacking midfielder Julian Draxler is out with the flu but is expected to play.
STEAUA'S SLUMP
Steaua have been unable to replicate their domestic form in Europe.
While the league season has started with a 12-match unbeaten run to sit second, Steaua has collected only two points in the Champions League.
Even if Steaua are beaten by Schalke, third place - and a Europa League spot - could still be up for grabs on the final matchday if Basel lose to Chelsea on Tuesday.
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