Barcelona v Chelsea: line-ups, Fantasy tips, form guide
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Article summary
All the essentials as former champions Barcelona and Chelsea, level at 1-1, write a new chapter in their European rivalry.
Article top media content
Article body
- One 0-0 draw between these sides in 13 #UCL meetings
- Messi scored for first time against Blues in 1-1 first leg
- Barcelona have won one of last six #UCL knockout games
- Follow live build-up to the game right here
- How to watch the game where you are
Reporter's view: Given the away goal which Leo Messi scored in London, Barcelona are not actually required to beat Antonio Conte's Premier League champions. But the reminder from Chelsea fans last week that the Blaugrana haven't beaten a Blues side with 11 men since May 1966 will rankle a little. Ernesto Valverde's side are attractive and robust in equal measures – but do they have the energy and edge to finish the job they began at Stamford Bridge?
Possible line-ups
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Alba; Paulinho, Rakitić, Busquets, Gomes; Messi, Suárez
Out: Denis Suárez (groin)
Doubtful: Iniesta (hamstring)
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill; Moses, Fàbregas, Kanté, Alonso; Willian, Morata, Hazard
Out: David Luiz (knee), Barkley (hamstring)
Doubtful: Rüdiger (muscular)
Fantasy Football top point scorers
Barcelona: Marc-André ter Stegen, goalkeeper (31 points, €6m)
Chelsea: Eden Hazard, midfielder (41 points, €10.8m)
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Weekend results
Málaga 0-2 Barcelona
Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
Form guide*
Barcelona: WWDWDW
Chelsea: WLLDWW
*All competitions, most recent first
Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona coach
In the first leg we saw Chelsea's virtues. The initial result is good for us but we have to play our game and be ourselves. Chelsea can score at any time. They can take different approaches, they showed that in London. But when they push back and defend strong they are hard to break through. Maybe the secret is to keep pressing, but they are also very strong on the counterattack ... and a threat from set pieces. We have to be careful about that.
Antonio Conte, Chelsea manager
In the first leg we played a really good game – almost a perfect game – against a team I consider one of the best in the world. The final result gives Barcelona a great advantage. We know their philosophy will be to win the game and we have to try our best, have great concentration and keep our heads on the pitch the whole time. There may be times that we suffer, but we have to stay compact and when we have the ball we must in heads and hearts that we can score.
