Genk v Chelsea: Champions League Preview & Team News

Chelsea will aim to extend their lead at the top of Group E when they travel to Genk Tuesday evening.

Despite a faltering Premier League campaign Andre Villas-Boas' side are currently unbeaten in Europe and the Portuguese manager is expected to ring the changes following Saturday's 5-3 defeat to Arsenal.

The Chelsea manager has played down reports he delivered a "rant" at his players in the wake of Saturday's result, saying there was nothing unusual about his reaction to the Blues' second successive top flight defeat.

"There was no kind of rant or extra work. There was a conservation as there would always be after a game," he told reporters.

"But don't get misled. With the defensive thing, it has something to do with balls played in behind with depth.

"We have analysed the game. There are quick counter-attacks, goals suffered in a defensive block, and that's nothing to do with a high line."

The last time Chelsea kept a clean sheet was in the 5-0 thrashing of tonight's opponents at Stamford Bridge last month but Villas-Boas insists he sees no reason to panic just yet.

"There's always a learning curve in winning and in losing. I think you have to be frank and say that our progress was stopped in a disastrous week for us in terms of results. But you cannot say it's all gone to ruins. That's not true.

"We are on the right track. What we are building is still right. We have been punished in the last week in terms of the results, but it's up to us to take on the challenge.

"We represent a massive club and we're not running away from the mistakes, but we have to move on."

Team News

Andre Villas-Boas is without Didier Drogba for tonight's game after the striker had six screws removed from his elbow, while John Mikel Obi remained in London with a minor back problem.

John Terry has travelled with the squad but the Chelsea manager has refused to confirm whether his captain will start at the Cristal Arena amid the racism investigation faced by the defender.

Genk will be without left-winger Daniel Pudil for the clash as the Czech player serves a one-match ban after being booked in the club's first three games.

Anele Ngongca is in line to return after illness while Abel Masuero (calf) and Marvin Ogunjimi (back) could also feature.

David Hubert (stomach) and Jeroen Simaeys (broken metatarsal) remain side-lined.

Genk probable XI: Kotales; Vanden Borre, Nadson, Hyland, Pudil; Buffel, Camus, Tozser, De Bruyne; Vossen, Nwanganga.

Chelsea probable XI: Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cole; Meireles, Romeu; Malouda, Anelka, Mata; Torres.