Chelsea v Barcelona – Champions League Semi Final 1st Leg Preview

One of the most intriguing modern rivalries of European football will be rekindled this week as Barcelona and Chelsea come to loggerheads in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The 1st leg of the last four tie takes place at Stamford Bridge as the teams meet for an incredible 9th time in the competition in the last six years. Barcelona controversially overcame the Blues at this very stage in 2009 when Andres Iniesta’s injury-time goal sent Barca through to the finals on away goals. Barcelona are in a record 5th straight semi-final while Chelsea are in their 6th semi-final in 9 years. The Blues have a 100% home record in Europe this season and coincidentally the last Spanish outfit to beat them in the competition were a certain Barcelona back in 2006. Chelsea havent won any of their last three semi-final meetings against Spanish opponents while Barca themselves have won only two of their six last-four meetings against English opposition. Both sides tasted victory in their games over the weekend, with Barcelona beating Levante 2-1 while Chelsea thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Team News

Chelsea

The Italian has made a huge impression with the turnaround he has masterminded since taking over from Andre Villas-Boas, having secured nine wins in his 12 matches at the helm. As well as moving back into contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League, the Blues on Sunday booked their place in the final of the FA Cup by thrashing London rivals Tottenham 5-1. While the Wembley triumph provides an ideal lift ahead of another massive clash, the midweek meeting with Barca is undoubtedly the sternest test to date of Di Matteo’s credentials as speculation continues over whether he could be offered the permanent position.

Di Matteo has demanded two ‘perfect’ games from his players against Barcelona and Frank Lampard insists Chelsea are not scared of the reigning European champions as they relish the tag of underdogs. Lampard is one of the senior men to have been given a fresh lease of life by Di Matteo’s arrival and is expected to line up in midfield alongside John Obi Mikel and Ramires. David Luiz will miss both legs of the tie after failing to recover as quickly as Chelsea had hoped from a hamstring problem, but Branislav Ivanovic is available during his domestic three-match suspension. At the other end of the pitch, Drogba will be hoping to start after his fine performance against Tottenham.

Barcelona

Barcelona will feel they are a better side now than the last time they faced the Blues, with Lionel Messi going from strength to strength and enhancing his reputation as one of the greatest players in history. The Argentine superstar has been in irresistible form all season and has netted a remarkable 14 goals in the Champions League this term, but in six previous games against Chelsea he has never scored. Even if that record is extended to a seventh game at Stamford Bridge, Barca still possess a frightening attacking arsenal and will be confident that someone can grab an away goal to take back to Camp Nou for next Tuesday’s second leg.

Barca have not had to rely on their home form to reach the semi-finals, though, having cruised through the group stage and then blown away Bayer Leverkusen before battling past AC Milan in the last eight. Pep Guardiola, who has dismissed reports linking him with the Chelsea manager’s job as ‘fantasy’, is now within sight of leading Barcelona to become the first club to defend the Champions League trophy. Guardiola says he is aware of the threat Chelsea will pose and will be without a couple of key players as Seydou Keita (thigh) has not travelled and David Villa (broken leg) is still sidelined. Andreu Fontas is also out for the season with a knee injury but Ibrahim Afellay has recovered from knee ligament damage and Dani Alves is back from a thigh problem. Gerard Pique has also overcome a thigh injury and is set to take up his place in defence alongside Carles Puyol and the versatile Javier Mascherano.

Head to Head

06 May 2009 – Champions League Semi Final, 2nd Leg – Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona

28 Apr 2009 – Champions League Semi Final, 1st Leg – Barcelona 0-0 Chelsea

31 Oct 2006 – Champions League Group A – Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea

Form Guide

Chelsea – WDWWW

Barcelona – WWWWW

Probable Starting XI

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel; Ramires, Lampard, Mata; Torres.

Barcelona (4-3-3); Valdes; Dani Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Puyol; Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas; Sanchez, Messi, Iniesta.

Prediction

Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona

A Look At The Past – Eight Chelsea-Barca Matches

When the draw for the second round and quarter-final stage of the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League was made, it was almost inevitable that Chelsea and Barcelona would end up locking horns in the last eight.

Here are two clubs who have crossed paths on numerous occasions in recent years, and meetings between the two have a habit of producing some mouth watering clashes. Here, we at Into The Top Corner take a look at the eight Chelsea-Barca matches played so far.

Barcelona 2-1 Chelsea, Champions League 2004/05 Round of 16, 1st Leg

Chelsea were leading after Juliano Belletti deflected Damien Duff’s cross into his own net after 32 minutes. But Drogba was then sent off by referee Anders Frisk for an innocuous-looking challenge on goalkeeper Victor Valdes after 55 minutes. Substitute Maxi Lopez quickly fired Barca level before Samuel Eto’o smashed in the winner with 17 minutes left. It was cruel luck on Chelsea, who had looked relatively comfortable until Barcelona were gifted a numerical advantage by flamboyant Swedish official Frisk.

Chelsea 4-2 (5-4 agg) Barcelona, Champions League 2004/05 Round of 16, 2nd Leg

Chelsea raced into a three-goal lead in 19 minutes, with Eidur Gudjohnsen, Frank Lampard and Damien Duff on target for Jose Mourinho’s side. But Barca pulled two goals back before half-time, Ronaldinho scoring from the spot after Paolo Ferreira handled. Ronaldinho then scored a stunning second, but Terry headed home after 75 minutes to send Chelsea through. After the acrimony surrounding the first leg, this clash also ended in controversy with Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard having to be restrained as a fracas erupted near the tunnel.

Chelsea 1-2 Barcelona, Champions League 2005/06 Round of 16, 1st Leg

Asier del Horno was sent off after 36 minutes for a foul on Lionel Messi – but Thiago Motta’s own goal gave Chelsea the lead after the break. Barcelona pinned Chelsea back and John Terry headed Ronaldinho’s free-kick past Petr Cech with 20 minutes left. Terry cleared off the line from Henrik Larsson and Ronaldinho before Samuel Eto’o headed home after 80 minutes. Barcelona’s attacking brilliance deserved the victory, and Jose Mourinho’s side face a massive task to turn the tie around in the second leg at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona 1-1 (3-2 agg) Chelsea, Champions League 2005/06 Round of 16, 2nd Leg

The Blues’ chances were limited, Didier Drogba heading tamely and Joe Cole flicking the ball just over, but they failed to sustain any real pressure. Hernan Crespo sent a near-post shot wide for the visitors before Ronaldinho expertly fired in after 78 minutes. A Frank Lampard penalty in injury time came too late for Chelsea.

Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona, Champions League 2006/07 Group Stages

Drogba struck on the turn seconds after half-time to give Jose Mourinho’s side a thoroughly deserved win and make it three straight victories in the group. Chelsea were without keepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini through injury, but third-choice Hilario was faultless. And Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko wasted chances to double Chelsea’s lead. With Cech out with a fractured skull and Cudicini also missing because of concussion, it was feared Barcelona may take advantage, but they were kept at arm’s length by Chelsea, with Michael Essien outstanding.

Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea, Champions League 2006/07 Group Stages

Eidur Gudjohnsen looked to have sent his old club crashing to defeat with a close-range finish after 57 minutes. Frank Lampard’s brilliant angled chip six minutes earlier had equalised Deco’s early strike from 20 yards. But Drogba pounced with seconds left as a clash that contained 10 yellow cards ended with Chelsea clinching a draw.

Barcelona 0-0 Chelsea, Champions League 2008/09 Semi Finals, 1st Leg

The Spanish league leaders enjoyed plenty of possession, but struggled to create many clear-cut chances. Thierry Henry forced Petr Cech to save and Bojan headed over from two yards, before Cech stopped Alex Hleb’s effort. Chelsea almost nicked a goal as Didier Drogba was foiled by Victor Valdes, while Michael Ballack headed just over. But Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink will be delighted with his side’s defensive fortitude in keeping a clean sheet – a feat not achieved by any visiting side at Barca this season.

Chelsea 1-1(a) Barcelona, Champions League 2008/09 Semi Finals, 2nd Leg

Chelsea looked to have kept Barcelona at bay and sealed an all-Premier League clash in Rome on a night of nerve-jangling tension after Michael Essien’s 20-yard blockbuster in the ninth minute. But with Guus Hiddink’s side hanging on – and fuelled by a sense of injustice after referee Tom Ovrebo rejected a succession of penalty appeals – Iniesta beat Petr Cech from the edge of the area to send Barcelona into the final on away goals. It was a heartbreaking moment for Chelsea and one that was too much to bear for Didier Drogba, on the sidelines after being substituted with an injury. There had already been angry scenes in the technical area after Barcelona’s leveller, with Hiddink appearing to be buffeted on the touchline, but at the final whistle, Drogba marched on to the field to subject referee Ovrebo to a prolonged verbal tirade. He rightly received a yellow card but Drogba refused to be deterred by this punishment and continued to pursue the official while being held back. It was an unpalatable conclusion to a dramatic encounter in which Chelsea had four appeals for penalties ignored, the strongest being a clear handball by Gerard Pique after the break.