Barcelona are hosting Chelsea in the first leg of the semi final Champions League and I am sure that football fans across the world will enjoy 90 minutes of top-class football at Camp Nou.
Chelsea played Barcelona in 2006/7 group stages, 2005/06 and 2004/05 first KO round. Chelsea went through with 5-4 aggregate (Barcelona won 2-1 in the 1st leg at home) in 2004/2005. But revenge was taken by Barcelona in the following year with a 3-2 aggregate, drawing in the 2nd leg 1-1 at Camp Nou. Barcelona managed to lift the Champions League trophy that year. Their latest encounter came in the 2006/2007 group stage where Chelsea did well again and drew 2-2 at Nou Camp.
Barcelona
Barcelona play so good this season that they are rightfully considered the best team on planet. Still, the history remembers titles and if they don’t win it, all of their success this season will be forgotten. Barcelona play the most attractive football and they have shown that on various occasions this season, but this is the first time they meet a serious defense, a team that can play for the score and that have individuals ready to use any mistake of the opposite defense.
Barcelona had to work hard for a point against dangerous Valencia this weekend. Only in the last minutes did Henry managed to level the score. Two points dropped in this match melted the gap over Real Madrid to only four points, so Guardiola’s squad will be giving more though to domestic championship in the future. The pressure is high and Messi, Xavi and the rest will have to show that they are ready to give their best in the hardest circumstances. Last year’s finals showed that Barca are vulnerable, that Messi can fail in the most important situations. However, this year Barcelona are in much better form but we don’t expect them to have an easy job against Londoners as they did against Lyon and Bayern.
Chelsea
The Blues are about to play the FA Cup finals, but that competition bears no significance for the fans nor for the owner of the club who invested millions hoping to win the Champions League title. IN the year of global economic crisis and when Roman himself is losing billions on the market, Chelsea might fall apart if they fail to win the Champions League, and the Russian might pack his bags and give up on the toy that is no table to give him trophies. The experiment with Scolari cost Abramovich the Premiership title, and this is the first time they are starting a match with Barca as minnows. Fe people expect Chelsea in the finals this year, but the team that have Drogba, Balak and Lampard on board should definitely not be underestimated so easily.
The experience might be Chelsea’s biggest advantage in the semifinals. They have slipped so many times on this step and last year it happened through penalties in Moscow. Still, the experience from the last seasons could be crucial in the duel against Barcelona. Barcelona play fast football and the question is how slow Chelsea defense will manage in such a play. If however, they move the action on Barca’s half, Chelsea’s physical shape might create problems for Barcelona’s defense that is not so tough as it seems. We shouldn’t forget that Hiddink has much more experience than Guardiola, who has done a great job leading the team this season but lacks experience in these kinds of matches.
(Source: Freebetting)
Form Guide
Barcelona
Apr 25 Valencia 2-2 Barcelona (LA LIGA)
Apr 22 Barcelona 4-0 Sevilla (LA LIGA)
Apr 18 Getafe 0-1 Barcelona (LA LIGA)
Apr 14 Bayern Munich 1-1 Barcelona (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)
Apr 11 Barcelona 2-0 Recreativo Huelva (LA LIGA)
Chelsea
Apr 25 West Ham United 0-1 Chelsea (PREMIER LEAGUE)
Apr 22 Chelsea 0-0 Everton (PREMIER LEAGUE)
Apr 18 Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea (FA CUP)
Apr 14 Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)
Apr 11 Chelsea 4-3 Bolton Wanderers (PREMIER LEAGUE)
Team News
Rafael Marquez is back from suspension but Sergio Busquets, Dani Alves and Carles Puyol will all miss the second leg if they pick up another booking. Martin Caceres and Gabriel Milito are both injured, but Lionel Messi should be able to play after recovering from a cramp last week.
In Chelsea, Ashley Cole is suspended. But fortunately, captain John Terry is back after serving out one-game ban. Ricardo Carvalho and Deco are still out injured while Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira are also sidelined undefinitely. Nicolas Anelka will miss the second leg if he gets another yellow card.
Prediction
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