UCL Preview: Chelsea v Barcelona

Published by djmick on May 6th, 2009

barca chelsea

Chelsea and Barcelona meet tonight at Stamford Bridge for their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg.

Following a tense goalless stalemate in the opening encounter at Camp Nou last week, the tie is tantalisingly poised and another classic European night – in a thrilling continental season – could be in store.

Depending upon perspective, Chelsea were either lauded or lambasted for their shut-up-shop performance in the face of their hosts’ creativity in Catalonia, but boss Guus Hiddink is promising a more expansive approach on home soil.

Both sides know they must score in order to progress and that suggests entertainment value will rise in West London as the imagination and guile of potential treble winners Barca, meets Chelsea’s power and desire.

European Cup holders United – who defeated Chelsea on penalties in last season’s final – lie in wait after Tuesday’s awe-inspiring victory over Arsenal, and both Barca and the Blues are desperate to halt Sir Alex Ferguson’s bid to become the first man to retain the Champions League in Rome’s final on 27th May.

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