CHELSEA vs Barcelona: Champions League Preview

Posted on May 6th, 2009 by Chelsea D

Uefa Champions League, Semi-final second leg
Venue: Stamford Bridge

Date: Wednesday, 6 May

Kick-off: 1945

 

So, Manchester United went through to the Champions League final last night with a 4-1 aggregate win over Arsenal. But will it be a repeat of last year’s final as predicted by Sir Alex Ferguson, or will Platini end up smiling tonight if the result isn’t an all English final again?

My stomach’s doing somersaults just writing this, so I dread to think what it’ll be doing by the time we kick off to be honest. Barcelona completely took Real Madrid apart 6-2 in their last game whilst we managed a pretty sloppy 3-1 against Fulham. Ok, so La Liga isn’t a patch on the Premier League and it’s not your usual Real Madrid these days but even so, it has to be a bit worrying.

Anyway, the nerves are making me ramble now so I’ll shut up and get on with the facts.

On squad news for us, Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira remain long-term absentees and it doesn’t look as if Ricardo Carvalho or Deco will make it back for this game either. Alex though, should be back after his groin strain at the weekend.  Ballack should also return after being rested at the weekend as does Ashley Cole having served his suspension in the first leg.

As for Barcelona, Thierry Henry seems to be a doubt with a knee problem, whilst both Puyol (suspended) and Marquez (injured) miss out at the back.

 

KEY PLAYERS

CHELSEA

Frank Lampard – the Chelsea midfielder had a surprisingly quiet first-leg against Barcelona but I expect him to be well up for the return and hopefully back to his best.

BARCELONA

Lionel Messi – again, the Champions League top scorer with 8 goals from 10 games, didn’t have a good first-leg so I can see he wanting to impress himself much more on this one. Could be a right handful tonight.

 

CLUB FORM

CHELSEA

We’ve reached the Champions League semi-finals for the third season running and the fifth in six seasons. We haven’t lost any of our last 17 at home in this competition although unfortunately, our last defeat was against tonight’s opposition back in February 2006 (1-2).

BARCELONA

Barca have reached the Champions League semi finals for a record equalling sixth time and for the second year running. Last season having drawn 0-0 at home against Manchester United, they lost 1-0 in the second leg at this stage. Barcelona haven’t lost in their last 5 Champions League games and defeat tonight would be their 100th in all European competitions.

 

HEAD TO HEAD

This is our 10th meeting in the Champions League. In a total of 12 games between us, Barca have won five to our four. Barca have failed to beat us in our last four games, making this their joint longest current winless run against a side in the competition – the other club being United.

 

PREDICTION

Daren’t even think about it.

 

TEAMS

CHELSEA (from): Cech, Hilario, Belletti, Bosingwa, A Cole, Terry, Alex, Ivanovic, Lampard, Obi, Ballack, Essien, Kalou, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka, Stoch, Di Santo, Mancienne.

BARCELONA (from): Victor Valdes, Pinto, Jorquera, Victor Sanchez, Caceres, Pique, Daniel Alves, Abidal, Sylvinho, Busquets, Iniesta, Hleb, Keita, Toure, Xavi, Eto’o, Messi, Henry, Gudjohnsen, Krkic, Pedro.

Filed under: Europe, Match Day, Preview

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9 Responses to “CHELSEA vs Barcelona: Champions League Preview”

  1. Sham, on May 6th, 2009 at 13:28 Said:

    1-0 to Chelsea but will be a borning game !!!!
    The team bus parked all night in front of Chec. He might hang this hat on the wing mirrors.

    Then somebody buy John Terry (The doorman Friend) a new pair of boots with real studs in them to stop him falling over in the final peno kick

  2. Dino, on May 6th, 2009 at 15:30 Said:

    I will take this result if it goes down this way .. boring or not ..

  3. Chelsea D, on May 6th, 2009 at 16:33 Said:

    If we can get a result out of this, I couldn’t particularly care less how we get it either.

  4. Spektral, on May 6th, 2009 at 17:26 Said:

    Agreed, who do you think will be playing in the back on the right side? Ivanovic or Bosingwa? Or Iva in the middle instead of Alex?

  5. Nick G, on May 6th, 2009 at 17:33 Said:

    I think that Guus will play Ivanovic on the right and leave Bosingwa on the bench. I also think that he will resort to the 4-4-2 he played at the weekend with Ballack Lampard Essien and Maluoda in the midfield and Drogba and Anelka up front. Agreed, I would love a result regardless of whether its boring or not.

  6. Chelsea D, on May 6th, 2009 at 18:01 Said:

    I think he’ll go with Bosingwa and as long as Alex is fit, he’ll stick with him in the middle.

  7. ph0bolus, on May 6th, 2009 at 21:11 Said:

    What a bullshit game from the ref…Rat bastard…Should of been 2 penalties at LEAST…Totally gutted..

  8. Sham, on May 6th, 2009 at 21:17 Said:

    What who moved the Bus ???
    Great ref a real homer that lad

  9. Nick G, on May 6th, 2009 at 21:17 Said:

    What a ridiculous game by the referee. That was the worst display I have ever seen and being a die hard blue I am devastated….