The game on everyone’s mind this week sees Chelsea make the familiar trip to the Nou Camp hoping to defy the odds and progress to the Champions League quarter-final. Barcelona obviously have the same aim and will be confident after their late equaliser at Stamford Bridge in the first-leg. This came courtesy of Lionel Messi in the second-half after Willian put Chelsea 1-0 up with a long-range strike on the hour mark.

STATS

• There isn’t a better side than Barcelona in Europe this season as they are the only unbeaten side in Europe’s top five leagues. Since their first-leg with Chelsea, they have won four of their five matches in all competitions, the most important of those being a 1-0 win over Atletico which brought them even closer to the La Liga title. The Catalan giants have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three games.
• Chelsea have been far from inspiring this term and they are struggling to confirm qualification for next season’s Champions League, currently sat in 5^th in the Premier League. In the three league games since their UCL clash with Barca, they have won just one. The other two saw them drop six points against both Manchester teams.
• With his first goal against Chelsea in the first-leg, Lionel Messi is now Barcelona’s leading goal scorer in the Champions League with four.
• Eden Hazard holds that position for the Blues with three goals but it was Willian who was more of a threat three weeks ago, scoring the opening goal and hitting the post twice.

HEAD TO HEAD

It’s never dull between Barcelona and Chelsea, especially at the Nou Camp. The last time the current Premier League champions made the trip, they went on to win the Champions League. Fernando Torres scored a last-minute equaliser in his home country to set up their historic final with Bayern Munich. Of the last eight meetings, six have ended as draws while the others saw Chelsea win, Antonio Conte’s side have only been beaten at the Nou Camp once and that was back in 2005 in a tie where they still went through. Both teams have scored in three of the last four and if Chelsea can execute some good counter-attacks, I think that will continue on Wednesday night.

BARCELONA NEWS

The hosts need a two-goal cushion to feel comfortable in this second-leg and with Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi back in training, they’ll be a lot more confident of doing that. With no first-team injury worries, they must field a strong side.

Latest matches: FC Barcelona

10.03.2018	LaLi	Malaga CF	FC Barcelona	0:2	W
04.03.2018	LaLi	FC Barcelona	Atletico Madrid	1:0	W
01.03.2018	LaLi	Las Palmas UD	FC Barcelona	1:1	D
24.02.2018	LaLi	FC Barcelona	Girona FC	6:1	W
20.02.2018	UEFA	Chelsea FC	FC Barcelona	1:1	D

CHELSEA NEWS

The visitors know that an away goal will put them in a very commanding position but they don’t want to expose themselves. Antonio Rudiger will miss the trip but that is the only notable injury for the Blues.

Latest matches: Chelsea FC

10.03.2018	Prem	Chelsea FC	Crystal Palace	2:1	W
04.03.2018	Prem	Manchester City	Chelsea FC	1:0	L
25.02.2018	Prem	Manchester United	Chelsea FC	2:1	L
20.02.2018	UEFA	Chelsea FC	FC Barcelona	1:1	D
16.02.2018	FA C	Chelsea FC	Hull City	4:0	W

SUMMARY

With the game currently a draw, Barcelona are seen as favourites on their own turf. Their away goal could be huge as Chelsea are expected to be doing a lot more defending than attacking. The hosts will have to be wary of their opponents’ pace on the break but it is certainly Barca’s to lose.