Champions League Semi-Final: Chelsea vs FC Barcelona Leg 1 Preview

Chelsea v Barcelona Preview, Champions League Match Previews

PREVIEW: Chelsea vs FC Barcelona, Champions League Semi Final Leg 1 (18 April 2012)

The holders head to Stamford Bridge once again to take on Roberto Di Matteo's men with both sides bidding for a place in the final against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich

Chelsea vs FC Barcelona, Champions League Semi Final 1 Preview

Chelsea has problems in defense with David Luiz likely to miss out after being stretchered off at Wembley against Tottenham on Sunday and Gary Cahill also struggling with a foot problem. John Terry will continue to play, despite a rib injury, and Branislav Ivanovic should replace Jose Bosingwa at right back, having been suspended for the FA Cup semifinal.

Elsewhere manager Roberto Di Matteo must decide whether to keep faith with the players who served him so well in the 5-1 thrashing of Spurs or freshen up his team. Dider Drogba and Frank Lampard were both scorers on Sunday, so may have done enough to retain their places, although Fernando Torres, who started both games against Benfica, will be hoping for a recall to the starting XI.

Barcelona has no fresh injury worries and indeed has players returning from injury with Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Seydou Keita and Ibrahim Afellay all back in the squad. It it also worth mentioning that both Javier Mascherano and Carles Puyol are one yellow card away from a suspension.

DID YOU KNOW ?

• Chelsea last met Barcelona in May 2009, again in the semifinals of the Champions League. After a goalless first leg, the Catalans qualified for the final with a stoppage time Andres Iniesta goal which cancelled out Michael Essien’s opener and saw Barca through on away goals.
• The Blues have a perfect record at home this season in the Champions League. Di Matteo’s men have played five, won five, scoring 16 times and conceding just two in the process.
• This fixture is the Londoners’ sixth Champions League semifinal in nine years. However, they have only ever won one, beating Liverpool 4-3 on aggregate in 2008.
• The Stamford Bridge side has never won the European Cup, although it has was runner-up in 2008.
• Barcelona’s last trip to London was last May at Wembley when it beat Manchester United 3-1 to claim a fourth European Cup.
• Should the reigning champions win the Champions League this season it will be their fourth triumph in seven years and they will be the first club since AC Milan in 1990 to retain the trophy.
• This is the fifth consecutive season that Barcelona has been in the semifinals of the Champions League. The last team to beat Barca at this stage was Inter Milan in 2010.
• Lionel Messi has faced Chelsea six times in the Champions League but has never scored against the Blues.
• When the two clubs met in the quarterfinals in 2000, Barcelona beat Chelsea 5-1 in the second leg at Camp Nou. That game saw Roberto Di Matteo start for the Blues, while a certain Pep Guardiola featured for the hosts.

Source: Goal.com