Will Chelsea dominate Barcelona again?
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Chelsea last beat Barcelona in 2012 in the Champions League semi-finals and went on to win the competition for the first time.
“This team is one of the best in the world – maybe they are favourites to win this competition”, said Conte.
“They’re the Premier League champions, a very strong team there on merit”. Chelsea outshot Barcelona easily and were very unlucky to score just once.
All still at stake for the Camp Nou contest.
Antonio Conte hints he has offers if Chelsea opt to sack him.
But Messi’s goal means Chelsea must now score in the return leg at the Nou Camp on March 14 to have any chance of progressing. Let’s hope they have a more competent referee for what could turn out to be their most important game of the season. The pitch conditions might be a little dodgy due to recent use but I’m sure the groundsmen will do their best to ensure that both the teams get fair opportunity to put up a brilliant game of football.
And, in 2016, they bowed out in the quarter-finals to Atletico Madrid.
Subsequently, Morata got injured and Chelsea have slipped up. Chelsea fans, however, are clinging on to many coincidental superstitions.
Jordi Alba’s link-up with Iniesta has been a key feature of Barcelona’s attacking play this season, but here the fullback seemed reluctant to push forward, perhaps concerned by the danger of being exposed by Victor Moses pushing forward from right wingback and linking up with Pedro.
“For us he is the best player in the world”. They might be happy with the result and we have to be respectful of their style of play.
Should they man-mark Messi?
However, with the early influence of Lionel Messi and Eden Hazard beginning to dwindle ever so slightly, it was Willian who came to the fore in a major way as the half wore on. But Messi’s longest scoring drought is against Chelsea.
Will Messi finally score against Chelsea today?
Barcelona recorded over 72 per cent possession at Stamford Bridge but captain Iniesta is not expecting the second leg to follow a similar pattern. “For this reason, we must pay great attention”.
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All eyes will be on Messi as the Barcelona talisman looks to score his first goal against Chelsea, having drawn a blank in his previous eight outings. That extra mid-fielder might trouble the Argentinian and block his movement. “Our plan was really really good and the effort was great, it’s a pity because we are talking about 1-1 and maybe we deserved more tonight”. I’m just focused on the game tomorrow and to the end of the season.
