Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the match between Chelsea and Schalke 04 in the Champions League.

The top two sides in Group E will go head-to-head at Stamford Bridge this evening, with both clubs aware that three points would go a long way to securing their passage through to the knockout stages.

The team news is already in from Stamford Bridge, so I won't hang about in bringing you the full details.

CHELSEA XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Mikel, Schurrle, Oscar, Willian; Eto'o

CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Schwarzer, Cole, David Luiz, Lampard, De Bruyne, Mata, Ba

SCHALKE 04 XI: Hildebrand; Uchida, Howedes, Matip, Aogo; Neustadter, Jones, Draxler, Boateng, Fuchs; Szalai

SCHALKE 04 SUBSTITUTES: Fahrmann, Hoogland, Santana, Kolasinac, Meyer, Clemens, Ayhan

So then, what do you make of that Chelsea team news? Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho hinted that he would make plenty of changes after witnessing his side succumb to Newcastle United at the weekend, and he has made as many as six alterations for the visit of Schalke.

Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta have been brought into defence, John Obi Mikel has replaced Frank Lampard in midfield, while in attack, Andre Schurrle, Willian and Samuel Eto'o have been handed a start.

Ashley Cole, David Luiz, Lampard and Juan Mata have all dropped down to the substitutes' bench, but there is no place in the 18-man squad for either Fernando Torres or Eden Hazard. Torres had already been ruled out of the fixture with a muscular injury.

Given the importance of this match to Chelsea, it's interesting that Mourinho has gone to such lengths to shake up his team. The likes of Lampard and Mata have frequently found themselves in and out of the team, but when was the last time that Ashley Cole found himself dropped to the bench?

Switching to Schalke for a moment, they have won one and lost one since they were defeated by Chelsea in Gelsenkirchen two weeks ago. They were overpowered by Dortmund at home, but they recorded a 2-0 success over Hertha Berlin at the weekend. In general, their form is a lot better away from home, but will they be able to continue that at Stamford Bridge?

They are sure to be helped by 3,000 visiting fans this evening. It's become the norm over the past few years for teams to be heavily backed on their travels in Europe, but still, that's fantastic support.

The previous fixture was dominated by a world-class performance from Fernando Torres. However, with the Spaniard absent tonight, all the focus will be on Samuel Eto'o. He has hardly featured since netting his first goal for the club against Cardiff City, but tonight really is the night that he needs to make a positive impact at the club.

Willian is another that hasn't really performed since his arrival in the summer. His better performances have been on the road, but like Eto'o, the home supporters are still waiting for the Brazilian to light up the Bridge.

Schalke 04 midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has insisted that tonight's fixture will be a lot different to that of the game in Germany. Read his comments by clicking here.

We are just over 15 minutes away from kickoff at Stamford Bridge. How about a prediction?

PREDICTION! If Mourinho had gone with the tried-and-trusted Cole, Lampard and Mata, I would have had this down as a home banker. I've got the feeling that Chelsea have too many players in their starting lineup who need an individual performance, and that could hinder them tonight. I still think that they will grind out a 2-1 win, but I reckon that this encounter is going to be extremely close.

If you wish to follow any of the other six Champions League matches tonight, you can do so by taking a look at our home page. We also have coverage of the Capital One Cup tie between Sunderland and Southampton.

The other match in this group sees Basel host Steaua Bucuresti. You'd had to say that should be an easy victory for the Swiss side, which places extra importance on the result of this match.

Jose Mourinho has told Sky Sports News that Eden Hazard is not involved tonight because he "missed training". The Portuguese coach would divulge no extra details...

Schalke get us underway.

Uneventful start with both teams just trying to maintain possession. The Schalke fans are extremely loud...

CHANCE! Schalke come oh so close to taking an early lead. Ochida drags the ball back to Draxler, but the young German curled his shot millimetres wide of Cech's post.

CHANCE! What is going on in the Chelsea defence?! Schalke open the Blues up at the back, and they should have netted again. The ball reached Szalai on the edge of the area, but he sent his effort in exactly the same place as Draxler's attempt. Chelsea are rocking.

I can't stress enough how bad Chelsea are playing. Mikel gets caught on the ball, and it gets sprayed out to Fuchs on the left. The Austrian advanced towards the penalty area before driving his shot wide of the far post.

Schalke continue to boss play, and it takes a timely intervention from Terry to prevent the ball reaching Szalai in the middle. Chelsea tried to break, but Willian gave away the ball.

Eto'o tries to engineer an opening for himself, but he looks too eager to score himself and the chance comes and goes. Schurrle had made a tremendous run outside him too. We have played 15 minutes at Stamford Bridge, and the home side have yet to have a shot.

BOOKING! Draxler has gone into the referee's notebook after pulling back Azpilicueta. It was pretty cynical, but I'm not sure it deserved a yellow card.

SAVE! Schurrle took the free kick for Chelsea, and he has drawn a tremendous save out of Hildebrand. The ball appeared to be heading for the top corner, but the German stopper parried it wide for a corner.

Goal news from Switzerland, and Bucuresti have, rather surprisingly, taken the lead against Basel. I think both Chelsea and Schalke will appreciate that scoreline. Schurrle looks to be growing in confidence, and he curls another long-range effort just wide of the post.

Chelsea are trying to force the play, and it's just not happening. Ramires and Willian have been particularly guilty of mis-placed passes.

There's a bit of a lull in the action. Nothing is really happening, apart from both defences playing the ball across their backline before opting to go long.

Timo Hildebrand has had an absolute mare here. The goalkeeper was taking his time to clear the ball, and under pressure from Eto'o, the stopper kicked the ball straight at the striker and it rebounded into the net.

What have Schalke got in reply? They don't deserve to be behind, and in truth, they have not looked likely in falling behind. Can anyone remember Fernando Torres's goal against Shakhtar last year? Chelsea's opener was exactly like that.

SHOT! Eto'o has got a spring in his step now. It's funny what a goal can do, isn't it? The Cameroonian attempted a first-time effort from 20 yards but it was straight at Hildebrand.

Schalke are trying to apply some pressure before the break, but apart from the first 10 minutes, they haven't tested Cech. Two minutes to go until the break.

What has happened here? The referee appears to have halted play because a Schalke player has lost his boot. Chelsea were on the offensive too. Very strange, and very harsh on the home side. There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time whistle has been blown at Stamford Bridge, and it's Chelsea who lead 1-0. Schalke were quick out of the blocks, but while they have struggled to create many opportunities, the Blues just about deserve their advantage for the amount of possession that they had during the final 15 minutes of the half.

While the shot count is equal at six apiece, Chelsea have had 63% of possession. If they remain ahead, I would expect the match to follow a similar pattern after the break.

The match in Switzerland remains 1-0 to the visitors. Bucuresti had already been dismissed as the group minnows after picking up just one point from three matches, but if they can hang on against Basel, they will move ahead of tonight's opponents.

The two teams are making their way back out. There doesn't appear to have been any alterations.

Chelsea maintain possession for the opening two minutes of the second half, but just as they appeared to be making progress, Schurrle kicked the ball out due to an injury to Draxler.

The slow build-up play continues for Chelsea, but they are finally dispossessed by Schalke. The Blues need to get the ball to the likes of Willian and Oscar a lot earlier than they are doing, because they are soon being closed down. Ramires is down after a kick to his left ankle.

SAVE! Great save from Cech to deny Draxler. Schalke broke quickly, and played the ball into the youngster on the right-hand side. He cut inside Azpilicueta before curling a shot towards the far corner, before it was tipped away by Cech.

Just after that scare up the other end, Chelsea double their lead through a more orthodox strike from Eto'o. The Blues broke through Willian, and after advancing towards the penalty area, he played the ball to Eto'o, who struck the ball across Hildebrand from 12 yards.

SHOT! Chelsea are getting into their stride, and after Willian plays a wonderful ball to Schurrle on the left, the German cut inside before forcing Hildebrand to save low down to his left.

SUBSTITUTION! Draxler hasn't recovered from the injury he picked up early in this half, and he has been replaced by Christian Clemens.

It remains 1-0 to Bucuresti against Basel. As things stands, Chelsea will require just a point from their final two matches to qualify for the knockout stages.

SUBSTITUTION! Christian Fuchs is making his departure from the action, with Max Meyer being sent on in his place.

There is 20 minutes to go at Stamford Bridge, and literally nothing is happening out on the pitch. The most entertaining moments are coming from the crowd trying to distract Hildebrand when he has the ball.

BOOKING! Jermaine Jones gets booked for Schalke after cynically blocking Willian as the Brazilian attempted to break with the ball down the right.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Mourinho finally makes his first alteration of the evening, taking off two-goal hero Samuel Eto'o for Demba Ba. Boateng has also been withdrawn for Schalke.

SUBSTITUTION! Another change, and Kevin de Bruyne is on in place of Andre Schurrle. The substitutions are the most exciting part of this second half.

CHANCE! De Bruyne and Ramires combine to play in Ba on the left-hand side of the penalty area, but the striker insisted on getting the ball onto his right foot, and the shot lacked power. Frank Lampard is entering the fray in place of Oscar.

What a lovely goal, and a welcome one for Demba Ba. Frank Lampard volleyed the ball cutely over the Schalke backline, and Ba arrowed a volley into the bottom corner of the net from 12 yards.

Schalke are continuing to push, but I think Chelsea are going to hold to their clean sheet. It hasn't been a 3-0 game, but Chelsea deserve the win.

Ramires and Jones have clashed heads, and the Brazilian looks to have come off the worse. He's back on his feet, but he looks extremely groggy.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

Chelsea earn a late corner, but De Bruyne's delivery is straight into the hands of Hildebrand.

The referee blows the full-time whistle and Chelsea have eased to a 3-0 success over Schalke 04. It was a slow start from the home side, but after their fortuitous opener, there only ever looked like one winner.

Before the match, Jose Mourinho challenged Samuel Eto'o and Demba to take advantage of the absence of Fernando Torres to stake their claim for a regular place in the starting lineup. I think that he will be pleased with their response...

Basel equalised against Bucuresti to take some of the gloss off Chelsea's win, but it would be a major catastrophe if Mourinho's men didn't qualify for the knockout stages.

That will be all from Sports Mole from this match. Many thanks for joining us this evening, and we hope to see you again for the Europa League fixtures tomorrow night. Goodbye for now.