Chelsea await this morning's Champions League draw knowing they will be without Michael Essien for both legs of the first knockout round after the midfielder was suspended for two matches by Uefa for his challenge on Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann in the group phase.
Essien later apologised to Hamann for what the German described as the worst foul he has received, and Uefa said it took into account Essien's insistence his challenge was an accident with no malicious intent. Europe's governing body also noted the player's previously unblemished disciplinary record in its competitions.
Essien was charged with gross unsporting behaviour for raking his studs into Hamann just below the knee as he went over the top for a loose ball, an incident which was missed by the officials during the teams' goalless draw at Stamford Bridge last week. Chelsea will decide today whether to launch an appeal against the ban.
The result meant Chelsea finished second in their group behind Liverpool, and Jose Mourinho's team can expect a tough draw. Champions League regulations mean runners-up face the winners of a rival group but cannot play a club from their own country, so Chelsea's opponents will be one of Barcelona, Milan, Juventus, Internazionale, Lyon or Villarreal.
Much can happen between now and the games in late February and early March, but Chelsea are bound to be upbeat, having beaten Barcelona at this stage last season and then Bayern Munich. "We are a team to be feared," John Terry has said. "There are sides out there we respect but we have confidence in ourselves."
Arsenal and the holders Liverpool will hope to avoid Real Madrid, Bayern and PSV Eindhoven, who reached last season's semi-final and took four points off Milan in their recent group matches.
Arsenal, eliminated by Bayern last season, cannot play Ajax because they have come through the same group.
Rangers could face Liverpool or Arsenal but not Inter, who topped their group, after becoming the first Scottish club to reach the knockout stage.
Chelsea, however, are steeling themselves for the prospect of another showdown with Barcelona.
Today's draw at the House of European Football in Nyon may again pair together the current English Premiership and Primera Liga champions.
The Catalan giants are in pot one along with the other group winners Arsenal, Liverpool, Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Villarreal and Lyon.
After finishing runners-up in Group G behind Liverpool, Chelsea are in pot two with Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, Ajax, Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Benfica and Rangers.
The first leg of Chelsea's clash with Barcelona at the Nou Camp ended in acrimony. Chelsea, manager Jose Mourinho, his assistant Steve Clarke and security official Les Miles were charged by Uefa with bringing the game into disrepute following the 2-1 defeat in Spain last February.
They had claimed Rijkaard entered referee Anders Frisk's changing room during the half-time interval, an accusation vehemently denied by the Dutchman.
Mourinho was handed a two-match touchline ban by Uefa's control and disciplinary body, as well as being denied contact with his players before, during or after the two legs of their quarter-final clash with Bayern Munich.
Along with the ban, Mourinho was fined £9,000, while the club were fined £33,000, with Clarke and Miles reprimanded.
However, in yesterday's dress rehearsal, Chelsea were drawn against Olympique Lyon, with reigning European champions Liverpool up against PSV Eindhoven, while Arsenal were handed a "Battle of Britain" date with Rangers.
The only stipulations that apply today are that no two teams from the same country can be paired together, while teams who qualified from the same group are also kept apart.
In the Uefa Cup knockout phase, where Bolton and Middlesbrough are the only British representatives, all third-placed sides from the groups will play the winners, while those who finished second are paired with one of the eight clubs dropping out of the Champions League.
