Match Report: Barcelona away CL Semi 1st Leg

Barcelona vs Chelsea


Chelsea drew 0-0 with Barcelona in the Champions League first leg at the Nou Camp last night which some will say is a good result, some will say is a bad result but we managed to become the first side to stop Barcelona scoring at home this season. Full match report here:

Chelsea make some changes to the starting eleven that played West Ham on Saturday. The team is : Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry (C), Bosingwa, Essien, Lampard, Mikel, Ballack, Malouda and Drogba.

Chelsea Kick off.

First minute of the game and Chelsea play their passes about the midfield and back four, ball ends up passed back to Cech twice to thump clear.

1st min. Barca play ball down left hand side and Henry runs at Ivanovic who brings him down in the left channel on edge of 18 yard box. BARCA CHANCE. Free kick comes in to far post, Cech flaps, Eto'o heads back across goal from 3 yards and Cech caught out of position rolls across goal towards back post Ivanovic swings and misses his clearance altogether and Marquez reacts too late and flicks wide but Eto'o called offside.

3rd min, CHELSEA CHANCE. Cech clears towards left hand sideline and Malouda under pressure from Alves controls and turns him 25 yards from byline plays ball square just outside box to Essien who plays ball into Lampard's path first time and Lampard curls towards far post and goes well wide.

Obvious at this early stage that when Chelsea are not in possession of the ball they are playing a flat 4-5-1 formation. Both wingers tracking back so we form two lines in front of Barca player in possession. A line of 5 in midfield and then our back four after that.

9th min. Barca have ball in the centre circle. Eto'o plays ball into left channel for Henry, who picks up ball 10 yards from the byline and passes back to Iniesta outside left edge of box. He plays to Messi.. first chance to run at Chelsea and he is blocked off by two players as he tries to play it past them, Chelsea clear.

11th min. Barca possession and cross comes in from Abidal and Cech off his line dives to his right and palms clear on the corner of his 6 yard box.

12th min, Messi runs at Bosingwa who chases him and dives in the tackle right hand side of box & he does win the ball, Messi goes down and free kick Barca. Messi over hits it straight out of play.

16th min. Alves is played in behind Bosingwa and Malouda and slides a cross across the 6 yard box, cleared by Alex.

17th min. BARCA CHANCE. Iniesta has ball just passed centre circle middle of the pitch plays into Xavi 20 yards out and lays off first time to Eto'o who spins onto the ball and is shut down straight away by Ballack and drags his shot wide.

BALL POSSESSION STATS ARE SHOWN BARCA 65% CHELSEA 35%. Chelsea sitting deep alot now.

19th min. BARCA CHANCE. Alves plays ball into Messi who comes inside from the byline, he plays into Henry who is backing into Alex on edge of box. Henry takes a touch and tees it up for the oncoming Messi who fires high wide and handsome from 20 yards.

23rd min. BARCA CHANCE. Possession in midfield for Barca. Ball comes to Iniesta just outside box left middle and he has a cross shot well wide.

25th min. BARCA CHANCE. Messi cuts inside and 30 yards out in centre of the pitch, skips passed a tackle by Alex. Messi goes over (did Alex touch him?) free kick Barca. Alex booked. 25 yards out dead centre of the pitch taken by Xavi and deflected over the bar for a corner. Corner comes in half cleared, falls to Messi who's shot is deflected for another corner. Nothing comes of it and cleared.

27th min. BARCA CHANCE. Alves has ball wide right 35 yards out, plays ball into Xavi middle of pitch 25 yards out and as he is closed down again he fires wide.

28th min. Ball played into Henry left hand side and Ballack dives in and half catches him. Henry goes down and Ballack is also Booked.

30th min. BARCA CHANCE. Xavi plays long diagonal ball over the top to Henry who chases it down. Picks ball up left edge of Chelsea box, comes inside and shoots hard and low towards Cech's near post. Cech down to save easily.

33rd min. BARCA CHANCE. Messi cuts inside with the ball 35 yards out and tries to flick a ball over the top to the on rushing Iniesta. Half blocked. Iniesta picks ball up just inside left edge of box and plays back to Henry who again shoots hard and low down to Cech's near post and Cech makes a great save for a corner. Nothing comes of it.

36th min. Iniesta goes down easy middle of the pitch. Barcelona players are complaining. Yaya Toure give his "advice" to the referee to show and yellow card and gets one himself from the referee. Yaya Toure Booked.

38th min. CHELSEA CHANCE. Ball played down line by Malouda on half way line. Drogba chases down Marquez who fluffs his back pass to Valdes. Drogba onto it like a flash and fires hard towards goals from 18 yards. Valdes saves as its straight at him and Drogba onto the rebound. He tries to flick it over Valdes but he palms it away with the help of Pique. Best chance of the half so far.

42nd min. Drogba picks up ball 30 yards out and takes ball past Marquez but is forced wide of goal, he gets into the box and loses his footing and goes down. No Penalty and wasn't one.

44th min. BARCA CHANCE. Yaya Toure has ball 35 yards out and holds of Mikel. Plays ball square to Iniesta who shoots at goal from 35 yards and easy for Cech to save as its straight to him.
HALF TIME. Good solid half for Chelsea who no doubt had the best chance of the game through Drogba.

Barcelona get us started for the second half & no changes for either side.

46th min. Chelsea have started well again. Ball played to Malouda who takes on Alves. Alves brings him down. CHANCE CHELSEA. Drogba crosses from left edge of box and Ballack wins the flick header 6 yards out over the bar!.

49th min. Ball played to Marquez on half way line in plenty of space. All of a sudden with the ball at his feet he collapses as knee buckles. His game is over. BARCELONA SUBSTITUTION: PUYOL ON FOR MARQUEZ.

57th min. Pique plays diagonal ball over the top to Alves coming in from right hand side over Terry, Alves chests it down as he takes it into the box and Cech's off his line like a flash and parries ball.

59th min. CHANCE BARCA. Corner for Barca taken by Xavi long past back post 10 yards from byline and Messi strikes it on the volley well wide.

60th min. CHANCE BARCA. Barcelona possession ends up with Dani Alves right hand corner of box who fires at Cech and he stands up and blocks the shot pushing the ball away at the same time. Good save again Cech.

66th min. CHANCE BARCA. Lampard fouls Iniesta 25 yards out dead centre. Free kick Barca taken by Alves over crossbar.

69th min. CHANCE BARCA. Ball played into Eto' just over halfway line and spins Alex . Terry comes to close him down, Eto'o flicks ball past him and heads towards the box. Alex tracks him all the way. Eto'o gets into box and feigns to shoot. Alex dives in and sells himself short. Eto'o cuts inside and shoots. Cech is off his line on the left hand corner off his 6 yard box and blocks the shot for a corner. Great save again Cech! Corner comes in headed well over by Pique.

70th min. SUBSTITUTION CHELSEA. BELLETTI ON FOR LAMPARD. Essien comes in from the right into the middle of midfield and Belletti on the right.

74th min. Puyol fouls Drogba and is booked. He misses the 2nd game next week.

80th min. CHANCE BARCA. Iniesta is played inside the left hand edge of box and gets to byline and hits a cross shot which is saved and pushed away at near post by Cech again. Corner to Barca comes to nothing.

81st min. BARCA SUBSTITUTION. BOJAN ON FOR ETO'O.

86th min. BARCA SUBSTITUTION. HLEB ON FOR HENRY.

5 mins stoppage time.

90th min. BARCA CHANCE BEST OF GAME. Ball played out to Alves who crosses from 25 yards out and Bojan unmarked heads over from 6 yards out.

92nd min. BARCA CHANCE. Hleb picks up ball on left wing inside his own half and carries ball into Chelsea half. Plays into Iniesta who plays to Xavi and flicks back down left wing between Ivanovic and Alex and Hleb come onto it at edge of box. Cech out again and gets a block at his feet, ball goes loose and Hleb shoots into side netting.

94th min BARCA CHANCE. Pique plays left to right to Alves who swings a cross in just over Bojan and curls wide of Cech's far post.

95th min. CHELSEA SUBSTITUTION. ANELKA ON FOR BALLACK.

Whistle blows. 0-0 Good result for Chelsea.

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