The big day is almost upon us. The build up has been much as expected: each and every utterance from the connections of both Chelsea and Barcelona has for the most part been spun out of proportion by the press (see below). It has become tiresome to say the least.
In team news, William Gallas has failed to recover from a hamstring injury and Michael Essien is suspended. John Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech and Asier del Horno will return to the starting line-up, while Claude Makelele is expected to be fit. Didier Drogba is likely to start up front.
Several players run the risk of being suspended for the second leg in Spain in two weeks’ time. Yellow cards for Frank Lampard, Arjen Robben and John Terry will see them miss out.
Prediction: Can we stop Barcelona scoring an away goal? I have my doubts. But I believe we can take a lead to the Nou Camp in a fortnight’s time. 2-1.
Read columnist Blingo Starr‘s take on the match here.
Chronologically ordered related links:
- Chelsea faced with turf war
- Chelsea and Barcelona in new conflict over referee
- Temperature on rise for rematch
- Mourinho angry about pitch claims
- Mourinho plays Barcelona pitch jibes for laughs
- Chelsea must draw first blood
- Gallas — ‘It’ll be even harder this time’
- The great dictator
- Ronaldinho sets standard to turn heat on Chelsea
- Mourinho makes Barca proposition
- Hamstring injury rules Gallas out of first leg
- Why Mourinho employs all his listening devices to win cup with big ears
- Motivation not a problem in clash of the heavyweights
- Mourinho warns of Barcelona dirty tricks
- Uefa chief issues stern warning to Chelsea and Barcelona
- Deco warns Chelsea that defeat will put paid to their chances
- Mourinho rejects Barca criticism
- Surface tension rises as best of enemies prepare for action
- Messi a mystery to Del Horno
- Pitch battle rages as Chelsea pour more water over the Bridge
- Rijkarrd believes his team are better than last year
- Chelsea ‘do not have many stars’
- Mourinho holds all the cards in catfight with Rijkaard
- Ranieri on Chelsea-Barcelona
Chelsea 1 – 2 Barcelona · Update
See columnists Blingo Starr and Grocer Jack’s reaction to the match here and here.
See the goals here (downloadable zip files).
Match reports: BBC Sport; Sky Sports; ESPNSoccernet; Official Chelsea FC Website; The Guardian; The Independent; The Times; Daily Telegraph.
Related links:
- Reaction: Mourinho asks the questions
- Chelsea score the ultimate own-goal as Barca win pitch battle
- Red card sparks Mourinho fury over Messi ‘play-acting’
- Beauty beats the beast as Chelsea ‘lose ugly’
- Mourinho hits out after red card
- Barca ignite as Chelsea light blue touchpaper
- ‘Of course it’s not a red card. It was a pure game until that moment’
- Simmering rivalry bubbles over
- Haunted Crespo seeks to summon spirit of Istanbul
- Chelsea must be bold to scale Spanish peak
- Thrills and spills signal return of the main event
- Cech sees Arsenal as cause for confidence
- Hatred turns on Hauge
- Lampard finds clues in bid to break down Barcelona
- Chelsea referee warned to expect death threats
- For the first time, Mourinho’s back is truly against the wall
- Statement on chat messages
- Lampard: We’re not out of it
- Del Horno fumes at Barca tactics
- Del Horno ban cut
