1 Point, 2 Legs: Chelsea and Rotherham Set for European Semi-final

That is the delicious shape of Chelsea against Rotherham United: a domestic summit meeting with a final waiting beyond two legs.

The first leg is at Chelsea on 29 April; Rotherham host the return on 7 May. Only one of these English clubs will go through to the UEFA Champions League final, and neither arrives short of momentum. Rotherham are third in the English Premier Division on 61 points; Chelsea lead on 85. Their recent league form is less flawless: Chelsea have won four of their last five, while Rotherham have won three.

There is a league table at home, too, and Chelsea lead the English Premier Division with 85 points from 31 games. Rotherham are third on 61 from 32. That is the setting, not the prize on offer in this tie: Europe gets its own reckoning.

The recent meetings have been a proper seesaw. Chelsea won 3-0 at Rotherham in the Carabao Cup on 15 March, after Rotherham had taken the earlier league meeting 2-1 on 5 January; Chelsea had won 4-0 at home on 25 August. The Millers know they can hurt the Blues; Chelsea know the latest meeting went emphatically their way.

Rotherham’s likely side has a question mark over two familiar faces. Fábio Pequeno and Kemal Aydın are both listed as injured, with a twisted knee and stubbed toe respectively, yet both appear in the expected line-up. Thomas Bernardini arrives after a 9.0-rated display against Napoli, a timely spark for the visitors. Chelsea’s likely XI includes Lionel Messi and Roberto Baggio, while Norberto Pico brings old Rotherham ties into the home side. Tony Konneh, once of Chelsea, now wears Rotherham colours.

You can keep the pies warm for the return leg, but this first one already has the feel of a night that will make the other feel a very long way off.