Chelsea v Barcelona Champions League Preview

Chelsea v Barcelona

Wednesday 6 May 2009,

Stamford Bridge

Kickoff: 19:45

Chelsea

Chelsea drew 0-0 with Barcelona at Camp Nou in the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final fixture.

In their Champions League campaign this season, Chelsea have so far won five, drawn five and lost one, scoring 19 goals and conceding 12 altogether.

Chelsea will welcome back Ashley Cole from suspension, but Ricardo Carvalho and Deco look set to miss the match due to injury.

Barcelona

After their 0-0 draw at home with Chelsea in the first leg of this semi-final encounter, Barcelona have so far won six, drawn four and lost one in their Champions League campaign this season, scoring 29 goals and conceding 12 altogether.

Barcelona will be without veteran defender and captain Carlos Puyol for this match due to suspension.

Barca will also be missing fellow defender Rafael Marquez after the Mexican international picked up a season-ending injury in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea.

Prediction

After the surprising result at Camp Nou a week ago, both teams have everything to play for at Stamford Bridge as they fight for a place in this year's Champions League final.

Domestically, the two sides had an interesting weekend for different reasons, but it was certainly Barcelona who had the more action-packed of the two.

Facing arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabéu in a match that could have potentially decided the winner of this season's La Liga competition, Barca stormed out 6-2 winners in the El Clásico fixture, the first time in history that either team have scored six away goals in a match against the other.

The match saw two goals each for both Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry and has all but secured the league title for Barcelona for the first time since the 2005/06 season.

Chelsea on the other hand posted a relatively convincing 3-1 victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge. The real talking point of the match, however, was manager Guus Hiddink pairing Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka together up front, with what appeared to be very successful results.

Whether the Blues will play a similar tactic against Barcelona on Wednesday remains to be seen, but the positive manner in which the two strikers combined may give Chelsea more options up front if necessary.

After last week's draw in Barcelona, Chelsea would have appeared to hold the upper hand in this all-star fixture, being the first team all season to keep Barca goalless at home. However, after Barcelona's inspired performance against Real Madrid on Saturday, the balance of this tie is now extremely delicately poised.

A single away goal by Barcelona would require Chelsea to put two goals in the back of the Barca net, something which is by no means an easy feat. Alternatively, Chelsea will have to again show the defensive fortitude to shut down the Barcelona attack, whilst at the same time having the strength up front to put goals past goalkeeper Víctor Valdés.

Due to their home ground advantage - and what must have been an exhausting last few days for Barcelona - Chelsea may look to have a superior position coming into this match, but a single goal by Barcelona on the night would tip the balance hugely in the Spanish side's favour. As such, there is very little to determine who will ultimately come out as the winner of Wednesday's match, and indeed the entire semi-final fixture.

Whatever the outcome, we are set to witness what could be a fascinating display between the sheer technical brilliance and artistry of the Barcelona side, and a Chelsea side renowned for its dominating physical and mental prowess, as both teams look towards Rome and a spot in this year's Champions League final.

READ the entire preview with the best online match betting odds at the Chelsea vs Barcelona odds and preview page now!

Then read our other Champions League semifinal preview at the Arsenal vs Manchester United page from Sports Betting Review.