Chelsea v QPR: Can QPR bring Di Matteo's men back down to earth?

What a week it has been for Chelsea Football Club! In Barcelona, down to 10 men, they held firm and sealed their place in next month's Champions League final against Bayern Munich. And yesterday's results with Arsenal and Newcastle have given their top four hopes a lift too. With a date with Liverpool at Wembley just around the corner in the FA Cup Final, this afternoon Chelsea have the opportunity to cap a remarkable period in the club's history by putting their nearest and dearest, QPR, closer to a swift return to the Championship.

Queens Park Rangers were the top dogs when these two sides last met in the league in an eventful clash at Loftus Road, but Chelsea got their revenge when they locked horns in the FA Cup.

Mark Hughes will have to be on top of his game today when they enter the Bridge. Wigan's remarkable 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle United yesterday has seen a three-point gap open between the two clubs. Rangers are currently out of the bottom three, but only on goal difference and Bolton Wanderers will have a game in hand on them after today. Can they upset the form guide and get something off the Blues? It doesn't look likely.

The Hoops have a terrible record at the Bridge. It's almost as bad as my luck with the ladies! The Hoops' last league win on Chelsea soil came almost 20 years ago but then QPR's record against Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs was just as bad before Hughes arrived. But can they really bring Chelsea back down to earth with a thump?

Chelsea could go one point behind Newcastle - who they face in midweek - with a win today and guarantee a place in next season's Champions League by finishing fourth, instead of resting it all on actually winning the trophy in Bayern's backyard. Given Roberto Di Matteo's luck over the past few months, you'd have to fancy him to win the FA Cup, bag fourth place and lift the Champions League! Whether that would be enough to convince Roman to give him the jon full time though remains to be seen.

QPR have lost more games on their travels this season than any other top flight club (12) and only Wolves and Blackburn have won fewer games on the road than Rangers. But derby games are notoriously hard to call and these West London derbies always tend to be won by the odd goal. That hasn't stopped our pundits though from throwing all their money on a home win. Will they be right?

Chelsea v QPR; Kick Off 1.30pm April 29 2012

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	0
Aston Villa	Frank Pattison	2	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	2	V	0
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	2	V	0
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	1
Fulham	Neil Springate	2	V	0
Liverpool	Mark Williams	2	V	0
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	2	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	2	V	0
Norwich City	Sue Read	2	V	1
QPR	Arjun Swaminathan	2	V	1
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	3	V	0
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	2
Tottenham	Mike Richards	4	V	0
Swansea	Jim White	2	V	1
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	3	V	1
Wigan	Alan Moore	3	V	1
Wolves	Chris Cox	3	V	0
OUR EXPERTS
Writer	Colin Illingworth	2	V	1
Writer	Steve Coulter	3	V	1
Writer	Phil Bundy	2	V	0
Writer	Mitch Waddon	2	V	0
Writer	Matt Turner	TBA	V	TBA
Writer	Chris Pettitt	2	V	0
Writer	Hugh Larkin	1	V	1
Aston Villa fan	Lynette Ranson	TBA	V	TBA
Blackpool fan	Phil Trow	2	V	1
Fulham fan	Russell Goldman	3	V	0
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	4	V	1
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	1	V	1
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	2	V	0
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	2	V	0
West Ham fan	Nigel Telfer	2	V	1
Editor	Antony Melvin	TBA	V	TBA

Panel Verdict

After seeing off Barcelona, QPR should be no problem for Chelsea.

Home: 30; Draw: 3; Away: 0. TBA 3

* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.