Chelsea looks to masterful Mata against Shakhtar

By Steve Douglas

Associated Press

Published: Monday, Oct. 22 2012 3:55 a.m. MDT

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Juventus French midfielder Paul Pogba celebrates after scoring during a Serie A soccer match at the Turin Juventus stadium, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012.Defending champion Juventus got two late goals from substitutes in a 2-0 win over Napoli in a top-of-the-table clash Sunday to take control of the Italian league and extend its Serie A unbeaten streak to 47 matches. Uruguay defender Martin Caceres scored in the 80th minute and French teenager Paul Pogba added another goal two minutes later.

Jonathan Moscrop, Lapresse, Associated Press

Summary

Snubbed by Spain for recent internationals, Juan Mata has reacted by producing arguably the best form of his career and Shakhtar Donetsk is up next for the Chelsea playmaker in the Champions League on Tuesday.

LONDON — Snubbed by Spain for recent internationals, Juan Mata has reacted by producing arguably the best form of his career and Shakhtar Donetsk is up next for the Chelsea playmaker in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Mata has scored six goals and a string of assists in his last five games for Chelsea, showing he is fully refreshed after being rested at the start of the season following appearances at the European Championship and Olympics.

He's still being overlooked by world champion Spain but Shakhtar will know Mata's the danger man in the Group E match.

Both teams have four points — two ahead of Juventus, which is expecting consecutive wins from its upcoming matches against Danish club FC Nordsjaelland.

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