The key head-to-head showdowns
Chelsea fans have been waiting all season for Hernan Crespo to show the ability that convinced Roman Abramovich to take the Argentine's net transfer value past £50million last summer.
The former Lazio and Internazionale striker is too nonchalant for his own good, gliding about the pitch where others tear up the turf, but with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink impatiently prowling up and down the touchline he is expected to deliver. Three goals in his last three games suggest that Crespo is running into form and and he has found a willing partner in Eidur Gudjohnsen, whose throughballs and late runs from deep should furnish him with plenty of chances.
However, Crespo will have to be at his best to get the better of Monaco defender Gael Givet, whose strong and assured performance in the first leg kept the Chelsea strikers relatively quiet.
John Terry v Ludovic Giuly
John Terry has had a magnificent season and was unfortunate to be pipped to the PFA Young player of the Year award by team-mate Scott Parker. However, the first leg was an evening he will choose to forget. The England defender was driven to distraction by the pace and movement of Ludovic Giuly, Monaco's captain and talisman who brought them to this stage with two goals in the quarter-final, second-leg against Real Madrid. Although nominally a midfielder he represents Monaco's greatest attacking threat and will carry even more responsibility in the likely absence of injured striker Dado Prso.
Terry was not helped by the declining pace of centre-back partner Marcel Desailly and will be relieved to see William Gallas alongside him. The Frenchman's speed will be greatly needed tonight.
Claudio Ranieri v Didier Deschamps
If tonight's semi-final is to be Claudio Ranieri's last stand, then the Chelsea manager will go down fighting. The Italian was punished for his uncharacteristic show of aggression in the first leg and seems set to try a similar trick, naming Joe Cole in an adventurous starting line-up.
Didier Deschamps is faced with a dilemma in deciding whether to kill off the tie by scoring themselves or limiting themselves to keeping out their opponents.
Monaco's natural game is to attack, and they are the competition's highest scorers, but they will not want to give the home side too much space.
Deschamps took the plaudits after the first leg, shoring up midfield after Andreas Zikos' dismissal and bringing on Shabani Nonda to score with his first touch.
Whichever manager makes the right decisions tonight will win the tie.
