With the premier league season in disarray, Chelsea now know they have a tough task ahead to qualify for the quarter-final of the Champions League when they face the La Liga leaders on March 15th. Languishing in 5th place, 4 points below their rivals Liverpool, Chelsea Fc have to progress to the next round to ensure they have a fighting chance to participate in next years champions league.
Barcelona vs Chelsea at the Camp Nou
Of the 13 encounters that these two teams have had against each other in the champions league since the start of the millennium, Chelsea have won just 4 times and never at the Nou Camp.
The last time these two teams met was at the same stage in the competition in 2012 when Chelsea won over the two legs having held Barcelona FC to a 2-2 draw in Spain. Chelsea went on to win the Champions League that year. Chelsea will need to show similar grit and determination to progress in this round as well because the stakes are much higher this time around.
Star-studded encounter
Chelsea will be hoping that Willain keeps his hot form going and he will be surely picked in the starting line up. Eden Hazard, Chelsea's most technically gifted player will be hoping to make a mark on the game as well, but the question remains who will lead the line for Chelsea. Morata? Giroud? Only Antonio Conte can say for sure, but all Chelsea fans will be hoping for a more attacking side than the one that showed up against Man City a week ago.
For Barcelona, Ernesto Valverde will be hoping that Andres Iniesta will be fit again for this crucial clash against Chelsea, according to marca.com. Messi had never scored against a Chelsea side until the two met on Feb 20th, 2018 for the first leg and having broken his duck all the FCB fans will be expecting him to score some more.
Chelsea FC transfer rumors
Two of Chelsea's best players midfield maestro Eden Hazard and Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois have been stalling on signing a new deal at the club. Eden Hazard has been linked with Spanish Giants and Barcelona Rivals Real Madrid for several years now, according to Express UK and reports say that he is waiting to check if Chelsea will play in the Champions League next year before putting pen to paper.
Recent rumors also suggest that of late he has become disillusioned by Coach Antonio Conte's pragmatic style of playing which sometimes see's him playing as a 9 or False 9. If Chelsea wants to have any hope of keeping their best players at the club this champions league game against Barcelona takes a whole new dimension.
The game to be played on the 15th of March at the Nou Camp will have more than a simple Champions League spot up for grabs for Chelsea and they need to play like they know it.
