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Match
Marcador del partit
- Date: Tuesday, 28 Apr
- Competition: ???label.competicio1???
- Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona
Resultat:
- FC Barcelona: 0
- Chelsea: 0
Match report
Match Report
All to be decided at Stamford Bridge (0-0)
Jordi Clos
Barça and Chelsea have drawn 0-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi final. In an intense encounter that Barça largely controlled, the two goalkeepers proved decisive with some crucial saves.
With a veritable constellation of stars out on the Camp Nou pitch, and the Barça temple packed to
the rafters with a capacity crowd of 95,231 spectators, this game had all the hallmarks of being a
classic Champions League encounter. But although the players didn’t disappoint, the goals
failed to come, with both sides fully aware that are another 90 minutes to play in London next
week. Barça played their trademark attacking football in a highly ordered fashion, but although
they enjoyed far more of the possession, the best chance of the first half fell to Didier Drogba,
who was twice denied by an impeccable Victor Valdés.
Barça then suffered a nightmare after the restart, with Ballack coming close and then Márquez
being stretchered off the field with a serious meniscus injury. Guardiola’s side gradually
got their game back, and on several occasions brought the very best out of an impressive Petr Cech.
Chelsea spent most of the second half shut inside their own half, and managed to achieve what
appeared to be their most seriously pursued objective, escaping from the Camp Nou with a clean
sheet.
Ball on the ground
Barça did not take long to realise that Chelsea are an immensely physical outfit, with a
rock-solid midfield, and with the visitors so strong in the air, it was important to keep the ball
on the ground, where the Barça players feel more at home. Xavi and Iniesta once against
orchestrated the action, supported all the way by an immense Touré. The home side was gaining
ground fast, and putting pressure not only on the visiting defence, but even on their keeper Cech.
It was a Xavi effort from outside the area that skimmed the post that was the nearest Barça came to
scoring in the first half.
Barça played it deep and seemed far more willing to play the waiting game than they have done
in recent matches, but looked comfortable enough controlling the possession and looking for ways
through the Chelsea defence, with Henry making the most dangerous runs down the left. It was the
Frenchman who showed the way forward with a rifled long shot in the 33rd minute that
Chelsea’s Czech international keeper dealt with expertly.
Drogba danger
Hiddink’s side looked to break the rhythm of the game with constant interruptions,
which also turned up the heat on an intriguing game. And it was Chelsea that came closest to
breaking the deadlock. In the 38th minute, Drogba intercepted a mistimed backpass from Márquez and
found himself one on one with Valdés, who heroically blocked the Ivorian’s first effort and
then bounced back to his feet to palm away the rebound. It was thanks to that flash of brilliance
from the Barça keeper that the sides were still on level terms at the break.
Calamitous restart
Chelsea continued applying pressure after the restart, with a Ballack header only narrowly
floating over the bar. It was not the start to the half that Barça could have wished for, and then
in a thumping clash in the air, Henry ended up semi-conscious on the floor – he managed to
recover and play on, but he never looked quite the same after the incident. Matters soon became
even worse. While running alone, Rafa Márquez trod awkwardly, damaged his meniscus, and was carried
off the field.
Fighting spirit
Barça were struggling, and it was time for the fans to pick the side up, and the delicate
situation was soon behind them as they once against started producing the kind of football we know
and love. Messi sent an effort only slightly too high, and then Cech produced yet more brilliance
to prevent both Alves in the 61st minute, and Samuel Eto’o following an tremendous 69th
minute run, from putting Barça into the lead.
Frantic to the end
With the deadlock unbroken, the final minutes of the game saw both sides throwing everything
they had into the game. Barça were carrying the possession, and always looked the more likely side
to score, but Chelsea’s rapid counter attack was always a very real threat. But when the
ninety minutes were up, the Premiership side opted to defend en masse and see out the five minutes
of stoppage time, although both Hleb, with his head, and Bojan, with his feet, enjoyed splendid
chances. But luck was not on their side, and there is still everything to play for when these two
sides meet again next week at Stamford Bridge.
Preview
Return leg in 8 days’ time
The return league is at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 6 May. By then the first finalist, either Manchester United or Arsenal, will already be known.
Destination Rome
Roger Bogunyà
Barça and Chelsea today kick off the battle at Camp Nou for a berth in the final at Rome (8.45 pm, live on Antena 3 and R@dio Barça). The semi-final promises to be an exciting clash of styles.
This Barça-Chelsea is something else. Gone are Rijkaard, Mourinho, Ronaldinho and Del Horno, as are
Deco and Belletti now playing for the Londoners. Tonight’s Barça-Chelsea clash is a very open
semi-final with both teams looking to attack and win silverware. It is also the Guardiola and
Hiddink tie.
Technique against strength
Apart from the dugout battle, the most important thing will be the clash of styles. Barça as
usual will go for possession and technique, while Chelsea will sit back and look to attack on the
break. They have talent with players like Lampard, Drogba and Malouda, but their main weapon is
strength.
A hard work
Guardiola
will be using his star players to break down the impressive Chelsea defence. Messi and Eto'o will
go head-to-head with Alex, Terry and the replacement for Ashley Cole, sanctioned for this game, who
might be Bosingwa. Barça will have to work hard because Chelsea has one of the highest fouls
committed tallies in the Champions League, plus the Londoners never give up and will, as Guardiola
pointed out on Monday, take the game by the scruff of the neck if Barça don’t.
Goals in prospect
Barça and Chelsea have the best defensive records in their respective Leagues – 26 and
39 goals conceded respectively – but the game looks like being a goal fest if recent European
experience is anything to go by. Barça put five past Lyon in the last 16 and four past Bayern in
the quarter finals at Camp Nou, while Chelsea notched two in Turin and three at Anfield.
