Fener have already written themselves into the record books by being the first Turkish side to win a quarter finals game in the competition, and are only the second team from Turkey to have progressed this far, with arch rival Galatasaray having crashed out at this stage some years ago.
However, Fener will also have to defy history, with home side Chelsea undefeated in their past 63 games at their Stamford Bridge ground.
The visitors have a few things going for them, not least a 2-1 advantage from the first leg game played in Istanbul last week. Another advantage, a morale one, is the fact that Chelsea failed to score in that game, the only blot on Fener’s card being an own goal by Deivid early in the first half.
Having kept the star studded Blues at bay for 90 minutes, Fener must fancy its chances of repeating the performance in London.
On the down side is the fact that the Istanbul side does not always travel well and the predicted icy conditions will not be to its liking either.
Though they won the first leg without him, Fener would dearly love to have ace defender Roberto Carlos back from injury, but it appears his damaged thigh has not responded well enough to treatment to allow him to take the pitch.
Both Fener’s Brazilian coach Zico and his opposite number Avram Grant of Chelsea have talked up their side’s chances in the big game, with Zico and his players stating publicly they are up for the challenge.
Grant, whose job is on the line, is just as confident, and with more than $400 million worth of playing flesh to put out on the field, and the home ground advantage, he has reason to be.
That said, Fener is desperately keen and might just pull off an upset.
