Barcelona vs Chelsea, Champions League - as it happened
Re-live all the action from the Camp Nou
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Chelsea travel to Barcelona on Wednesday night for the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash.
Camp Nou has been a particularly happy hunting ground for Chelsea in recent years, with their stunning 2-2 draw in 2012, a game that saw them progress to the final, standing out as a pivotal moment in their triumphal Champions League campaign.
Chelsea had been struggling in the Premier League prior to Saturday, having lost four of their last five league games, though a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace will have given Antonio Conte’s side some renewed confidence as they prepare to face a Barcelona side who are unbeaten in the league throughout their current campaign (W22 D6).
For Antonio Conte, with his side four points adrift of fourth placed Liverpool, progression in the Champions League itself could well be Chelsea’s best chance of qualifying for the competition in 2018/19. As such, Wednesday night takes on added significance for the Italian and the club.
Follow all the action below in our live blog:
Match preview
What time does it start?
Barcelona vs Chelsea kicks off at 19:45 on Wednesday 14 March.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 2 from 19:45. Coverage starts at 19:00.
It’s a big game for…
Antonio Conte. For Chelsea’s Italian maestro, the last few weeks have presented numerous challenges which his side have coped with in differing degrees of efficiency. Last weekend’s victory against Crystal Palace was important to allowing the Blues to get back on track domestically, though Wednesday night presents a chance for Conte’s side to progress on the European stage.
Weird/best stat…
It has been over 12 years since Barcelona last beat Chelsea in the Champions League, dating back to their 2-1 victory in February 2006.
Remember when…
In arguably one of the greatest Champions League games ever, Chelsea came from behind to advance to the 2012 UCL final with a 2-2 draw against Barcelona. Re-live the game here.
Player to watch…
Willian. After scoring in the first-leg tie at Stamford Bridge and with six league goals in the current campaign, Willian could be set to make yet another vital contribution at the Camp Nou. Willian hit the bar twice before scoring his goal in the first leg, and Conte will be hoping for improved efficiency from the Brazilian forward in the second leg on Wednesday.
Past three meetings…
Chelsea 1 Barcelona 1, Champions League, February 2018
Barcelona 2 Chelsea 2, Champions League, April 2012
Chelsea 1 Barcelona 0, Champions League, April 2012
Form guide…
Barcelona: WDWDWW
Chelsea: WWDLLW
Odds…
Barcelona to win: 21/50
Draw: 19/5
Chelsea to win: 7/1
Pre-match quotes from Antonio Conte
On Olivier Giroud's inclusion: "We have to play against a strong team. Our players must be ready to work very hard, especially Eden and Willian.
"In Giroud we are talking about an international player with great experience. His experience can be positive for us."
On the challenge facing Chelsea tonight: "I think when you play against a team like Barcelona, they like to dominate the possession, you must be very good and keep calm and be prepared to suffer. Usually they have a lot of the ball. We must be good and we must be ready to suffer when we are without the ball."
Quotes from BT Sport
A reminder of tonight's teams
Barcelona starting XI: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic; Dembele, Messi, Suarez
Subs: Cillessen, Paulinho, Paco Alcácer, Digne, André Gomes, Aleix Vidal, Vermaelen
Chelsea starting XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Fabregas; Willian, Hazard, Giroud
Subs: Caballero, Cahill, Zappacosta, Emerson, Bakayoko, Pedro, Morata
The players are out on the Nou Camp pitch and kick-off is just moments away!
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Chelsea (Messi, 3)
That didn't take long at all. It was Messi who started the movement, playing the ball into the Chelsea box before it ping-ponged its way back into the feet of the Argentine near the right-hand side byline. From the tightest of angles, Messi tried his luck, squeezing the ball underneath the legs of Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian will be fuming. Should have done much better there. The worst possible start for Chelsea.
6' - Willian delivers a threatening free-kick into the box from the left wing and earns a corner as a Barcelona defender turns the ball into the side-netting. However, that corner, taken by Chelsea's Brazilian winger, is easily cleared.
10' - Chelsea have responded really well to conceding that early goal. Eden Hazard in particular looks threatening for the visitors and he's already gone on a couple of marauding runs.
14' - Willian tries his luck from distance for Chelsea but Marc-Andre ter Stegen makes a good diving stop to his right to deny the Brazilian.
18' - Barcelona, in true Barcelona fashion, are just stroking the ball around at will at the moment. However, they haven't really threatened Thibaut Courtois' goal since Lionel Messi's early strike.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Chelsea (Dembele, 20)
Wonderful goal!
Lionel Messi sparks a Barcelona counter-attack as he skips past a couple of Chelsea defenders before offloading the ball to Ousmane Dembele, who takes a touch before rifling a driven shot across Thibaut Courtois and into the top corner from just inside the penalty area.
Chelsea have a mountain to climb now.
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