Tuesday 20th February 2018 Kick off 1945hrs Chelsea v Barcelona Football – Europe – Champions League Chelsea and Barcelona have plenty of history in the Champions League and they’ll prepared to write another chapter in that book when they meet on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge. It’s been a really disappointing title defence for Antonio Conte’s men and he’ll be looking to the Champions League as a way of salvaging something from the campaign. For Barcelona they will be aiming to repeat their 2015 historic triumph when they won La Liga, the Copa Del Rey and this competition. Two teams approaching it in very different moods but it promises to be an interesting pair of games.
Although Chelsea cruised to the Premier League title last season, little has went right for them since that point. A poorly managed summer transfer window was followed by a disappointing start to the season and one that has not really improved. Of course, it wouldn’t be the first time that a Chelsea team have went from one extreme to another but the divisions appear to be surfacing once again. The Blues are currently in fourth and will have a battle on their hands to stay there on current form. They have made progress in the FA Cup but it’s the last-16 tie with Barcelona that will go a long way to determining how successful this season will be for Conte and his players. Chelsea had to settle for second spot behind Roma in their group by virtue of a poorer head to head record against the Italians. It was never going to be a straightforward group with Atletico Madrid also in the section but they paid the price for some sloppy performances and the result of that is they face the formidable challenge of knocking out Barca. They have been written off against the same opponent before, however, only to progress to the latter stages.
Nobody was quite sure how the Ernesto Valverde experiment would work at Barcelona and there were many supporters who felt he did not have the required experience to be successful – it appears those doubts are very much unfounded. Barca have a seven point lead over Atletico Madrid in La Liga and well on course to regain the title they loss last to Real Madrid the previous season. They have also progressed to the final of the Copa Del Rey where they will face Sevilla in April. In terms of their route to this stage of the Champions League it was about as straightforward as it comes at this level, winning four of their six group games and drawing the other two. The only lost one goal in their section which is a contrast to what we have come to expect from previous Barcelona teams. It is that added steel and defensive organisation may well prove to be the difference in their quest to return to European glories. The only defeats they have tasted have come in domestic cup competitions so they have yet to be beaten in La Liga or this competition. There is a long way to go in both, of course, but spirits are high at the Nou Camp just now as they travel to London.
Chelsea v Barcelona Betting Tip
There have been plenty of memorable moments between these clubs in the Champions League down the years. Their most recent encounter was back in 2012 when Chelsea surprised many by getting the better of Barca on their way to conquering Europe for the first time in their history. It’s a similar sort of build up to this fixture as most are expecting the Catalan giants to have too much for their opponents – but that may well play into Chelsea’s hands. Their remains plenty of quality in that squad and the change of competition and test of facing Barca may bring out the best in them.
Last week’s games in the Champions League were full of goals but I have a feeling that this game may be much more tactical. Chelsea are unlikely to be able to go toe to toe with Barcelona in an attacking sense, instead focusing on how they can frustrate and then counter on them. I alluded to Barcelona’s change of style under Valverde and with two of their three away games in the group stage ending goalless – including against Juventus – it suggests he has an approach and an identity to how he sets his team up on their travels in Europe. I think this game has all the makings of a low-scoring match up before opening up in the second leg, so take under 2.5 goals.
Under 2.5 goals 21/20 @ Betfair
