Mata urges Chelsea to treat Shakhtar like final

Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata reckons tomorrow night’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk should be treated like a final.

The Blues go into the match knowing a second defeat in a fortnight against the Ukrainian Premier League champions would leave them with a mountain to climb to avoid becoming the first reigning Champions League winners to fail to reach the knockout stage.

Mata, who has been one of Chelsea’s top performers during the early parts of the season, knows what a stern challenge Shakhtar pose and will treat the meeting as a cup final.