Ramires back for Blues

Brazilian midfielder Ramires has returned to Chelsea’s midfield for tonight's Champions League clash with Spartak Moscow at Stamford Bridge.

Ramires had missed three games with an ankle injury.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti has rested midfielder Michael Essien and captain John Terry, who is relegated to the bench.

Alex and Branislav Ivanovic are paired together at the heart of the defence with Paulo Ferreira at right-back.

Salomon Kalou replaces the injured Florent Malouda in attack while Didier Drogba has been handed the captain’s armband.

Spartak make two changes from the game in Moscow. Andrei Ivanovic is preferred at right-back and fit-again skipper Alex replaces injured Ari.

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Alex, Cole, Mikel, Ramires, Zhirkov, Kalou, Drogba, Anelka.

Subs: Turnbull, Sturridge, Terry, Van Aanholt, Bruma, Kakuta, McEachran.

Spartak Moscow: Dikan, Ivanov, Pareja, Suchy, Makeev, Ibson, Shyeshukov, McGeady, Alex, Dmitri Kombarov, Welliton.

Subs: Belenov, Sabitov, Drincic, Bazhenov, Khodyrev, Ananidze, Kozlov.

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey).