Football
- FT: Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona
- Willian opens the scoring (62)
- Brazilian hit post twice in first half
- Messi replies for Barca (75)
- Champions League last 16, first leg
A first mistake of the night for Chelsea and they are punished.
Christensen plays a really poor pass across his own box which goes straight to Iniesta. He breaks one tackle, gets into the box and then pulls back for Messi, who finishes brilliantly first time into the bottom corner.
GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 BARCELONA (Willian 62)
It’s third time lucky for Willian, and WHAT a finish to give Chelsea the lead.
He hit the post twice in the first half but Willian this time shimmies on the edge of of the box, goes right and then picks out the bottom corner with a brilliant curling shot that bends around two or three players.
HALF-TIME
Chelsea 0-0 Barcelona
An absorbing half – no goals, but played at the speed of a sharpshooter with chances for both sides.
Chelsea have had the best of them though with Willian twice rattling the frame of the goal from distance.
Post Match Interview
‘Defending for 90 minutes is a suicide mission’
FT: Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas speaking to BT Sport: “It is such a shame really. I thought we were very good, we executed the game plan really well, we were compact, solid, played as a team and created lots of chances – Willian could have had a hatrick – but we go home sad because a fantastic performance is not a fantastic result.
“It is still open though and we have showed that we can compete and we will need another excellent performance at the Nou Camp to go through.
“You have to have a lot of personality to play against this team who has 70% of the ball. We have to go there to attack and score because 90 minutes defending at the Nou Camp is an eternity, it is a suicide mission. We have to play our game.”
‘Barcelona paid Chelsea the ultimate respect’
Andy Townsend
Ex-Republic of Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live
It has been a fascinating watch. Chelsea got the lead through Willian, but then carelessly, needlessly, sloppily handed Barcelona an equaliser to Lionel Messi.
He previously had trouble with Chelsea but when they needed him most, when his team need him, he usually provides.
Barcelona paid Chelsea the ultimate respect. It will be a different Barcelona in the Nou Camp in a couple of weeks.
Pre Match Post below
Chelsea boss, Antonio Conte confessed he has had trouble sleeping over tonight’s Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have won just four of their past 12 games in all competitions.
Barcelona are in contention to win the treble and are unbeaten in La Liga, which they lead by seven points.
“This team is one of the best in the world – maybe they are favourites to win this competition,” said Conte.
“On the other hand we must be excited because we have a great opportunity to play a massive game against a really strong team and to show which our level is,” the Italian added. “We have to try to have the perfect game.”
Chelsea lost their EFL Cup semi-final against Arsenal in January followed by Premier League defeats by Bournemouth and Watford.
They have started to turn their poor form around, with a league win against West Brom on 12 February followed by Friday’s FA Cup fifth-round win against Hull.
Conte’s future has been the subject of debate this season and following the Barcelona match, his side face a key game against Manchester United in the league on Sunday.
“In these days after the game in the FA Cup, I must be honest… it was a bit difficult to sleep well,” said Conte.
“When you have to play this type of game, you have to prepare. You have to prepare everything. You have to prepare big things, but the smaller details too.”
Chelsea last beat Barcelona in 2012 in the Champions League semi-finals and went on to win the competition for the first time.
Barca’s top scorer this season, Lionel Messi, is yet to score in eight appearances against the Blues.
“We are talking about the best player in the world,” added Conte. “Messi has the capacity to solve situations, create a chance when you are not seeing the chance to score. This means we are talking about a fantastic player.”
TEAMS NEWS
Marcos Alonso and Ross Barkley, who have missed Chelsea’s last three games, trained on Monday, but David Luiz and Tiemoue Bakayoko were absent.
Barcelona centre-back Thomas Vermaelen has travelled to London, but Philippe Coutinho is cup-tied, after playing for Liverpool in the group stages.
MATCH STAT
Chelsea and Barcelona are facing each other for the 13th time in the Champions League, the fifth-most played fixture in the competition.
The London club are unbeaten in their last seven Champions League games against Barcelona (won two, drawn five).
Barcelona have won only one of their six away games against Chelsea in the Champions League and they have never kept a clean sheet at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea will attempt to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2013/14 – they are winless in their last six knockout games.
Barcelona have reached the Champions League semi-finals only once in the last four seasons.
Barcelona were one of four teams to remain unbeaten in this season’s Champions’ League group stages, alongside Besiktas, Liverpool and Tottenham.
They also have the best defensive record in the Champions League this season, conceding only one goal in six games.
Luis Suarez has failed to score in the last 791 minutes of play in the Champions League, his longest drought in the competition.
Eden Hazard has scored three goals and delivered two assists in his last five Champions League games.
POSSIBLE LINEUPS
Barcelona (4-4-2): Ter Stegen; Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Alba; Rakitic, Paulinho, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suárez
Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill; Moses, Kanté, Fàbregas, Alonso; Pedro, Morata, Hazard
PREDICTION
These two teams are extremely similar in that they love to defend and be brutally efficient with the ball, but with Barcelona having a higher ball retaining efficiency.
Playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has been a fortress for the Blues against Barcelona in times past, so it’s hard to see anything other than a draw, but it’ll be a very good one for Barca: 2-2, with two away goals.
And that is that. Messi’s first goal against Chelsea gives Barcelona the edge in the tie at the halfway stage.
The goal aside it was a good performance from Chelsea, but their one real mistake was punished and they must now score in the return leg on March 14 to have a chance of making the quarter-finals.
Thanks for your company this evening and stay tuned across Sky Sports digital platforms for reaction from both managers.