Goal.com - Home

thumbnail Hello,
 
Played
April 18, 2012 7:45 PM BST
Stamford Bridge — London
Referee:‬ F. Brych‎
Attendance:‬ 37000‎
 
45+2′ Didier Drogba
 

Chelsea – Barcelona Preview: Blues aiming to avenge controversial 2009 Champions League defeat

The holders head to Stamford Bridge once again to take on Roberto Di Matteo's men with both sides bidding for a place in the final against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich

By Gill Clark

More On :  Barcelona, Chelsea FC, Chelsea FC vs Barcelona
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA

Cech
Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Cole
Mikel, Lampard
Ramires, Mata, Kalou
Drogba
BARCELONA
 
Valdes,
Puyol, Mascherano, Pique
Alves, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta
Sanchez, Messi, Pedro

Chelsea have problems in defence with David Luiz likely to miss out after being stretchered off at Wembley against Tottenham on Sunday and Gary Cahill also struggling with a foot problem. John Terry will continue to play, despite a rib injury, and Branislav Ivanovic should replace Jose Bosingwa at right-back, having been suspended for the FA Cup semi-final.

Elsewhere manager Roberto Di Matteo must decide whether to keep faith with the players who served him so well in the 5-1 thrashing of Spurs or freshen up his team. Dider Drogba and Frank Lampard were both scorers on Sunday, so may have done enough to retain their places, although Fernando Torres, who started both games against Benfica, will be hoping for a recall to the starting XI.

Barcelona have no fresh injury worries and indeed have players returning from injury with Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Seydou Keita and Ibrahim Afellay all back in the squad. It it also worth mentioning that both Javier Mascherano and Carles Puyol are one yellow card away from a suspension.


  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Chelsea last met Barcelona in May 2009, again in the semi-finals of the Champions League. After a goalless first leg the Catalans qualified for the final with a stoppage time Andres Iniesta goal which cancelled out Michael Essien’s opener and saw Barca through on away goals.
  • The Blues have a perfect record at home this season in the Champions League. Di Matteo’s men have played five, won five, scoring 16 times and conceding just two in the process.
  • This fixture is the Londoners’ sixth Champions League semi-final in nine years. However, they have only ever won one, beating Liverpool 4-3 on aggregate in 2008.

  • Barcelona’s last trip to London was last May at Wembley when they beat Manchester United 3-1 to claim their fourth European Cup.

  • Should the reigning champions win the Champions League this season it will be their fourth triumph in seven years and they will be the first club since AC Milan in 1990 to retain the trophy.
  • This is the fifth consecutive season that Barcelona have been in the semi-finals of the Champions League. The last team to beat them at this stage was Inter Milan in 2010.
  • Lionel Messi (pictured right) has faced Chelsea six times in the Champions League but has never scored against the Blues.
  • When the two clubs met in the quarter-finals in 2000, Barcelona beat Chelsea 5-1 in the second leg at Camp Nou. That game saw Roberto Di Matteo start for the Blues, whilst a certain Pep Guardiola featured for the hosts.

Follow Goal.com on Twitter

Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Chelsea FC 1-3 Barcelona
    14.81 %
  • Chelsea FC 2-0 Barcelona
    13.67 %
  • Chelsea FC 2-1 Barcelona
    11.9 %
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ 24 Apr 2012 Barcelona 2 - Chelsea FC 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ 18 Apr 2012 Chelsea FC 1 - Barcelona 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ 6 May 2009 Chelsea FC 1 - Barcelona 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ 28 Apr 2009 Barcelona 0 - Chelsea FC 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Chelsea FC
19 May 2013Chelsea FC 2 - Everton 1EPL
15 May 2013Benfica 1 - Chelsea FC 2EL
11 May 2013Aston Villa 1 - Chelsea FC 2EPL
8 May 2013Chelsea FC 2 - Tottenham 2EPL
5 May 2013Manchester United 0 - Chelsea FC 1EPL
Barcelona
19 May 2013Barcelona 2 - Valladolid 1LIGA
12 May 2013Atlético de Madrid 1 - Barcelona 2LIGA
5 May 2013Barcelona 4 - Betis 2LIGA
1 May 2013Barcelona 0 - FC Bayern München 3UCL
27 Apr 2013Athletic de Bilbao 2 - Barcelona 2LIGA
Odds
Returns: Chelsea £50.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £60.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Barcelona £260.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1Petr CechGoalkeeper
2Branislav IvanovicDefender
3Ashley ColeDefender
24Gary CahillDefender
26John TerryDefender
7RamiresMidfielder
8Frank LampardMidfielder
12John Obi MikelMidfielder
14Raúl MeirelesMidfielder
10Juan MataStriker
12Didier DrogbaStriker
22Ross TurnbullGoalkeeper
19José BosingwaDefender
5Michael EssienMidfielder
15Florent MaloudaMidfielder
9Fernando TorresStriker
21Salomon KalouStriker
15Daniel SturridgeStriker
1Víctor ValdésGoalkeeper
2Daniel AlvesDefender
5Carles PuyolDefender
21AdrianoDefender
4Cesc FàbregasMidfielder
6XaviMidfielder
8Andrés Iniesta LujánMidfielder
14Javier MascheranoMidfielder
16BusquetsMidfielder
9Alexis SánchezStriker
10Lionel MessiStriker
13José Pinto ColoradoGoalkeeper
3PiquéDefender
32BartraDefender
11Thiago AlcántaraMidfielder
-Seydou KeitaMidfielder
17PedroStriker
23CuencaStriker
Players to Watch
Petr Cech
Petr Cech
Position: Goalkeeper
Squad Number: 1
Games Goals YC RC
6 0 0 0
The Chelsea goalkeeper was a little fortunate to escape a red card on Sunday, after pulling down Emmanuel Adebayor, and may just be in for a busy night with Messi and Co. in town.

With injuries at the back, the Blues may have to rejig their defence and they will need Cech to be at his very best if they are to stop Barcelona scoring an away goal that proved to be the difference the last time the two sides met.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
11 8 0 0
Who else? The little Argentine has broken records left, right and centre this season but will be hoping to smash another at Stamford Bridge. Incredibly, the man who has already scored 14 goals in the Champions League this season and a mere 41 in La Liga has never managed to score against Chelsea in Europe’s top competition.

Only Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy have scored more goals than Messi in the Champions League, a record you suspect will not stand for too much longer.
Prediction
Chelsea head into the game in good spirits after dismantling Tottenham at Wembley, a result which should stand them in good stead to take on the Champions League holders.

The nature of their elimination at the hands of Barcelona back in 2009 may also provide extra motivation, if any were needed, although such has been the continued brilliance of the Catalans, that even that may not be enough for victory.
Editor's Prediction
Chelsea 2
Barcelona 2
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Match News
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		12 0
Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Borussia Dortmund 		10 1
Thomas Müller Thomas Müller
Striker
Bayern Munich 		8 1
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		8 0
Burak Yılmaz Burak Yılmaz
Striker
Galatasaray 		8 0

Goal.com United Kingdom

Editions

Copyright © 2013 Goal.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Goal.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Goal.com