Hazard, Matic among victims as Mourinho rings changes

Chelsea’s Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard

 

Jack Colback during the English Premier League football match at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, on September 26, 2015 (AFP Photo/Ian MacNicol)

Porto (Portugal) (AFP) - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho responded to a below-par peformance in the Premier League at Newcastle United on Saturday by dropping Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic from his starting line-up for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Porto.

Belgian star Hazard and Serbian midfielder Matic dropped to the bench, while Oscar and striker Loic Remy were missing altogether from the matchday 18 at the Estadio do Dragao.

There were starts for John Obi Mikel, Ramires and Willian, the latter two after starring as Chelsea came from two goals down to draw 2-2 in Newcastle at the weekend.

In addition, Diego Costa, serving a suspension domestically, returned in attack for the Group G encounter in Portugal against Mourinho's former club.

John Terry was once again on the bench, while Radamel Falcao did not even make the squad as Chelsea look to build on a 4-0 win against Maccabi Tel-Aviv in their first outing two weeks ago.

Iker Casillas, who famously fell out with Mourinho when the pair worked together at Real Madrid, started in goal for Porto to make a record 152nd appearance in the Champions League