FCBARCELONA.CAT

14.04.2009 22:45

Chelsea to face Barca after thriller (4-4)

Roger Bogunyà

Chelsea won the right to face Barca in the Champions League semis after an eight goal thriller at Stamford Bridge saw them draw four apiece with Liverpool and take the tie 7-5 on aggregate.

Rafa Benitez’s team didn’t make it easy for their hosts though and after taking a 0-2 lead in the first half it looked as if the Reds could just pull off a remarkable result.

After winning 1-3 at Anfield, Chelsea might have thought that the job was pretty much done, but Liverpool, spurred on by the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, took Guss Hiddink’s team to the brink, despite playing without their talismanic captain Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool early goals give hope

Two early goals from Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso sparked real hopes for the visitors, but Chelsea came out much brighter in the second half and Drogba, Alex and Lampard turned the result around. At 3-2 there looked no way back for Liverpool, but they again lifted their game and Lucas and Kuyt hit back to leave them tantalizingly just a goal away from booking their place in the semi finals. It wasn’t to be though, as Lampard finished them off with a late strike that saw the Blues through after an extraordinary game.

History on Barca’s side

Barca and Chelsea have met on five occasions in Europe and history looks to be on Barca’s side:

1965/66. Fairs Cup Semi Finals. After a 2-0 win at the Nou Camp, Chelsea got the same result in London and in the days when extra time and penalties were unheard of, the tie was decided in a third game in Barcelona, which Barca won 5-0

1999/00. Champions League Quarter Finals. Barca went down 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg, but in a magical night at the Nou Camp, they fought back to win 5-1 after extra time and take the tie.

2004/05. Champions League Last Sixteen. The 2.1 win at the Nou Camp was never going to be enough and Rijkaard’s team crashed out after losing 4.2 in London.

2005/06. Champions League Last Sixteen. A year later and Barca turned the tables, winning 1-2 in England and drawing 1-1 in the return game. Barca went on to take the title for the second time in their history.

2006/07. Champions League Group Stage. In the game at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea won 1-0, whilst in the return game a 2-2 draw meant Chelsea finished top in the group, with Barca second