Chelsea
Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho (C) talks to Branislav Ivanovic (3rd L) during a training session in Cobham, southern England, October 20, 2014. Chelsea are due to play Maribor in a Champions League Group G match on Tuesday.Reuters

Chelsea play hosts to Slovenian side NK Maribor in their third Champions League Group G fixture at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

The Blues have done reasonably well in the Champions League so far, recording a draw and a win in their opening two fixtures against Schalke and Sporting Lisbon respectively.

The main talking point of this game will be the absence of Spain striker Diego Costa, who has been sidelined with a hamstring problem.

Having been one of the main forces behind Chelsea's excellent start to the new season, with 9 goals in seven appearances in the Premier League, the Brazil-born striker's absence will be sorely missed by the Blues.

Still, considering the sheer strength and depth of their squad, Chelsea are expected to easily beat Maribor at Stamford Bridge.

Many were expecting the Blues to rest some of their key players against Maribor due to them having an important English Premier League fixture against Manchester United on Sunday.

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However, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insists that he is currently focusing on the Champions League rather than the Premier League.

"I don't have Manchester United in mind. I have Maribor in mind. I don't rest players. We have to think about this game, not the one in Slovenia," the Portuguese told UEFA's official website.

Despite the Blues currently topping their group, Mourinho stressed the importance of winning against Maribor.

"It's important to win, yes. The group is not an easy one to win. Sporting are a good team and are playing better and better," he added.

"Schalke are a good team now that [former Chelsea manager] Roberto [Di Mateo] is the new coach, motivation is high. [They're a] dangerous team.

"So we have four points. It's not bad. But we need seven out of these three matches. Not to qualify, because with seven you are far from being qualified, but seven gives you a little bit of stability for the second part."

Meanwhile, Maribor will also be looking to get a positive result in this fixture despite them being the underdogs.

Although they are yet to register a win in the group stages of the Champions League this season, they also haven't been beaten as yet, drawing both their opening fixtures against Schalke (1-1) and Sporting Lisbon (1-1).

And Maribor manager Ante Šimundža insists that they will not be coming to Stamford Bridge to sit back and defend.

"Our mentality is to win. To play offensively. We always try to go for the win, but we will not be pushing without thinking. We want to find our positive side and their negative side – and hopefully get a result," Šimundža said.

Despite admitting that Chelsea are the "favourites", the 43-year-old believes his side can get a "positive result" in this fixture.

"We have to be honest and say that Chelsea are the favourites, but we have our aims too. A positive result. A win? Why not? We have to be at our top level to achieve that."

Šimundža says that his side will be looking to exploit Chelsea's weaknesses during the match.

"Every team has strengths and weaknesses and Chelsea are no exception, but they have many more strengths than weaknesses. We will try to play in a way that they will not find easy," he added.

Expected lineups: Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanović, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matić, Fàbregas; Willian, Hazard, Oscar; Rémy.

Maribor: Handanovič; Šuler, Filipović, Mejač, Rajčevič, Viler; Ibraimi, Vršič, Bohar, Mertelj; Tavares.

Where to Watch Live

The game is set for a 7.45 pm BST (12.15 am IST and 2.45 pm EDT) start with live coverage on Ten Sports in India. Indian viewers can also stream the match live on Ten Sports Live. Catch the action in the UK on ITV 1, with an option to live stream the match online on ITV Player.

Viewers in the US can watch the Champions League game on Fox Soccer Plus, with an option to live stream on FoxSoccer2Go. Audience in the Middle East and North Africa can catch the action via live streaming on Bein Sports Connect, while South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa viewers can do the same on Supersport online.