Barcelona vs Chelsea, 2011-12 UEFA Champions League, Semi-finals
· 2nd Leg - Chelsea win 3-2 on aggregateAbout
Barcelona are hosting Chelsea
at Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain, starting on
. The match is a part of the UEFA Champions League.
Match Commentary
- 0': Join us for all the action as Chelsea travel to Barcelona with a 1-0 lead in the Champions League semi-finals.
- 0':
Roberto Di Matteo is confident of success. - 0': There are five players who could miss the final if they pick up yellow cards. But Chelsea are not worried; the team comes first.
- 0': Barcelona team news, and it's 3-4-3. Valdes, Pique, Mascherano, Puyol; Busquets, Xavi, Fabregas, Cuenca; Messi, Sanchez, Iniesta.
- 0': Chelsea will defend in a 4-5-1: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Lampard, Mikel, Ramires, Meireles, Mata; Drogba.
- 0': So Barcelona out to attack then. They need to as a 0-0 will send Chelsea through. The Blues are in with a massive chance if they score, as Barca will need to get three.
- 0': Any questions for me, then I'm on Twitter @joncarterespn.
- 0': Certainly they will fancy Drogba to have another go at the defence, along with Mata pulling the strings in behind. First job, though, is defence and it will be a hard one for Barca to get through.
- 0': Syed asks: Jon, do you think that #CFC strategy of defending all out is a bad one? Yes, they can't invite pressure the whole time and will need an outlet. Drogba will be key there.
- 0': Guardiola's tactics were off in the first leg as Messi was isolated. With Sanchez and Cuenca up there now, he can drop off and use the space better with the defenders preoccupied.
- 0': You have to remember Barca's finishing was poor as well, but they are a wounded animal after the Clasico defeat so Chelsea certainly have a chance.
- 0': The first goal will be key: If Chelsea can grab one they I think they will sit and try and hold on. If Barca get it, then we may see Di Matteo move more to a 4-2-3-1.
- 0': Want some stats: Under Pep Guardiola, Barcelona have only failed to score twice in 24 knockout games in the Champions League (against Chelsea & AC Milan)
- 0': However, Chelsea are the team Lionel Messi has played the most against in the Champions League without scoring: six games, no goals.
- 0': And one that really is amazing. Victor Valdes has made just 9 saves in the competition this season; Petr Cech has made 43.
- 0': Just five minutes to kick-off and it's starting to get exciting now. Am sure Roman is as nervous as anyone.
- 0': The players are in the tunnel and ready to go. Chelsea have drawn the last three times they have been at the Nou Camp and they would love to do it again.
- 0': Cuneyt Cakir from Turkey is the official, one of UEFA's least experienced. He is going to be watched closely.
- 1': KICK-OFF: Chelsea get us underway...
- 1': Cole gets away down the left right away and slipped the ball inside to Ramires. He almost got onto it, but Valdes came out.
- 2': That was an early scare with about 10 seconds on the clock. Barca now keeping possession and making sure they control the pace.
- 2': Cahill up in the opposition box for a free-kick, but is beaten to the ball. I guess Chelsea aren't all about defending after all.
- 3': Xavi with a dink over the top and Sanchez races onto it. The ball skids off the turf and through to Cech.
- 4': Messi with a wonderful chance. Passes one-two with Sanchez and races through. He's a little wide and his shot misses the near post on his weaker right foot.
- 4': Reminding you again: Messi has never scored against Chelsea.
- 4':
Barcelona players huddle ahead of the kick-off. - 5': Cuenca is working Cole down the Barca right. Terry does well to get his foot on the cross and clears.
- 6': Chelsea have dropped back, unsurprisingly. Barca with some trademark passing trying to open a gap or two.
- 6': Sanchez again causing problems as Messi exchanges passes. The ball is slipped to him but Cahill is there to block. Really quick feet from the Barca frontline and they look dangerous. Cahill has pulled something and looks hurt.
- 7': He overstretched and has gone down. The fans are shouting for timewasting, but that doesn't look good; a hamstring strain perhaps?
- 8': Cahill is up and about again, but Bosingwa is warming up on the sidelines.
- 8': Barca playing against ten men for the time being and are keeping the ball well. Cech comes to claim well after a lofted pass from Messi.
- 9': Drogba cutting a lone figure up front. Hardly seen much of him at all.
- 10': Looked like Cahill was about to come off, but he's staying out there and Bosingwa has gone to sit down again.
- 10': Iniesta flicks the ball over the heads of the defenders after finding space down the left and Cole has to clear from under his bar. Cech was nowhere.
- 11': So many players in the Chelsea box, it's really congested. Barca are playing their usual way, Chelsea trying to get bodies behind the ball.
- 12': Messi and Sanchez look to link up again, but the ball rebounds and Xavi almost makes the most of it.
- 12':
Cahill off, Bosingwa on. Huge disappointment for the Chelsea defender. - 12': Ivanovic to move to centre-back and the Portuguese will slot in on the right of defence.
- 13': Barca looking for an opening. Moving it nicely from side to side, but there are 21 players in the Chelsea half.
- 14': Pass, pass, pass, we've seen it before. But how much longer can Chelsea hold out?
- 14': Mata wastes a chance to get the ball to Drogba, as his cross is too close to Valdes.
- 15': Chelsea getting a bit of the ball back now. They don't need a goal, but they would love one.
- 16': Bosingwa shows a poor touch and gives it to Fabregas. He's drifting around, but has not done too much of note so far.
- 17': Cech hammers the ball upfield and Drogba is running onto it. Valdes comes out and takes him and Pique out. Pique is spark out.
- 17': The defender has taken a real blow to the head. Valdes' hip clocked him and he's down. Medical staff are on the pitch and attending to him.
- 18': Pique is up on his feet, but looks very shaky. Barca could be called into a sub.
- 18': Drogba flicks the ball on and Mascherano has to clear. He's going to be a tough prospect up front all night.
- 19': Pique is back on by the way.
- 19': Barca with a wonderful move. Another one-two and a backheel from Fabregas to Messi. He hits it, but Cech blocks with his feet.
- 19': Messi should do better, he's had two chances on goal now and missed them both. Best chance of the half so far.
- 20': Cuenca hit the side netting soon after as Barca went on the attack again. They look the more likely to score at the moment.
- 21': Barca knocking it around again, but it's all in front of 11 Chelsea players. Mascherano shows his skills and has a go from way out, but it flies over.
- 22': Chelsea will be happy if they are reduced to shooting from that far out. It's the interplay around the box that will cause them problems.
- 23': Drogba making a nuisance of himself again. Clashing with Busquets and the ref has to seperate them.
- 24': Drogba with a flick on and he gets the ball back from Ramires. A volley on the turn lacks venom and flies carelessly over the bar.
- 25': Close control again as Messi drops off and tries to pass between Cesc and Sanchez. It's all too tight though.
- 25': One huge long ball from Cech finds Drogba. He muscles his way past Pique and shoots wide of the near post. Contrast of styles there.
- 25': Pique off, Alves on. He was struggling after that head blow.
- 25': A bit of a tactical shift now, and Mascherano moves into the centre with Alves on the right of the 3-4-3.
- 25':
Gary Cahill speaks to the Chelsea medical staff after sustaining an injury - 27': Chelsea strong again as the little passes outside the box come. Iniesta can't get past Bosingwa, who stands firm and doesn't let him past.
- 27': Puyol goes for the corner and Drogba heads clear. Good defending as well from the Ivorian.
- 28': Cuenca's cross beats everyone, while Sanchez picked it up and Messi tried a lobbed pass. Ivanovic cut it out though.
- 29': Busquets is helping out his defence and picks the pocket of Drogba after he brought the ball down well.
- 30': Cech has remained untested since the Messi effort; Chelsea will certainly be happy with that.
- 30': Sanchez is causing Ivanovic some issues, he pops it back to Xavi who has a shot which is blocked.
- 31': Now the ball rebounds back to Iniesta, and his shot flies wide. So far the long shots have done little to trouble Cech.
- 31': A long ball again down the middle. Valdes panics and miscommunicates with Puyol. He ends up slicing his kick with Mata bearing down.
- 32':
Mikel is booked for bringing down Sanchez. - 33': Cuenca is being marshalled well by Cole and has found little space. A pass was on to Iniesta, but Fabregas overhits it and it goes beyond him.
- 34': Cech being booed for 'timewasting' from goalkicks. Ref is telling him to get on with it, but the Barca fans are showing their frustrations.
- 35':
Carles Puyol calls for medical attention as Gerard Pique suffers a nasty fall - 35':
GOAL Busquets scores! - 35': It was a corner that was hit out, Alves pounced and fed Cuenca who slotted it across the box. Busquets was there to hit home from six yards out. Very easy.
- 35': Lots of great goalscorers for Barca and the DM Busquets is the one who slots home. 1-0 Barca.
- 37':
John Terry has been sent off. - 37': An off the ball incident and Sanchez has gone to ground. He kneed him in the hamstring. Quite obvious to me.
- 37': Terry is furious, but it was a blatent kick out. He thought the ref wouldn't see it, but he did.
- 38': What are Chelsea going to do now? They have no more defenders on the bench.
- 38': Evidently the assistant ref drew the referee's attention to the incident from Terry.
- 39': Xavi flicks the free-kick back to Messi, who blasts it into the wall.
- 39': No skipper and no central defenders: Mikel has slotted in there. Chelsea are going to have a real struggle on their hands.
- 40': A rearguard action is all that is left. Forget Chelsea's attacks now; they'll be holding on for penalties.
- 41': Drogba is dropping back and helping out. Chelsea need to get to half-time without another goal or losing their cool.
- 41': Cuenca set up the goal, but that was from the other side. Cole has controlled him all game.
- 42': Sanchez with a clever turn in the box. Bosingwa has now moved into the centre of defence and Ramires at RB.
- 44': GOAL Iniesta scores another for Barcelona.
- 44': Busquets robs the ball and Sanchez breaks. He runs at the defence and they retreat. Messi is there and he passes left to Iniesta who slots it home.
- 44': A wonderful finish and surely there is no way back for the Blues.
- 44': Ramires goes into the book for protesting and would miss the final.
- 45': A killer blow for the Blues. They just opened up and the defence was caught out by Messi's pass.
- 45': Sanchez has it in the box and Cole has to get his foot on the ball to stop Barca again.
- 45': GOAL What a goal! Ramires out of nowhere!
- 45': What a finish. Lampard releases him as Barca switched off and he chips the ball over Valdes superbly.
- 45': Well, that is interesting. Chelsea are through on away goals now and Barcelona need to score one more.
- 45': Cuenca's cross and Bosingwa gets it over the bar. Cech has committed and for a second it looked like it might go in.
- 45': HALF-TIME: Barcelona 2-1 Chelsea. Terry's red card has handed Barca the advantage, but they will need to score again in the second half.
- 0': What an incredible half of football. Ramires' goal with only a few seconds of the first-half left has opened things up again.
- 0': The focus will be on John Terry and what he did. A simple knee to Sanchez that he thought nobody would see. The assistant ref did though, and he deserved a red card for such a stupid act.
- 0':
Petr Cech looks to calm John Terry down after his first-half dismissal - 0': Nobody seems to have any idea what Terry was doing. We can't wait to hear from the man himself.
- 0':
Sergio Busquets turns the ball home for the opening goal - 0': Can the Blues hold on and make the next 45 minutes the greatest of their careers? We'll find out shortly.
- 46': KICK-OFF: Barcelona get us underway for the second half.
- 46': Barcelona are doing their thing already. But they do need to score, they can't keep holding onto it.
- 47': Well that was close. Iniesta's shot is blocked as Fabregas turned it onto him. Just squeaked wide.
- 47':
Ramires chips the ball home to make it 2-1. - 47': PENALTY! Drogba was tricked by a one-two and Fabregas went down.
- 48': Not much contact, but enough and Barca have a great chance right away. Messi steps up...
- 49': He hits the bar! Incredible!
- 49': What a game, is everything going to happen???
- 49': Messi charges through and is almost tripped, but stands on his feet. Bosingwa gets it clear.
- 49': Terry says: "I've not had one booking this UCL season, and I did not do it deliberately."
- 50': We'll get more from that later on. There will be some more quotes, but there is more of a game to come.
- 51': Ivanovic was booked earlier, for protesting over the penalty. He would miss the final.
- 52': Now there's a fight, of course there is. Fabregas and Lampard are at it against - remember the 2007 Carling Cup final? - Messi pushes Lamps and everyone piles in.
- 53': No bookings there though, which is a little odd.
- 54': Ramires has the ball and there is no-one to pass to up front.
- 54': Great ball to Alves, who crosses and Sanchez is there to head the ball. It goes wide, and perhaps he should have done better as he had found space between the defenders.
- 55': Iniesta tries a low ball which is hit away by Ivanovic. Barca turning up the gas now.
- 56': Poor from Busquets and Barca lose the ball. Nothing Chelsea can do to break forward though. Drogba gets the ball and charges down the right. He hammers a shot from inside his own half and Valdes saves (just).
- 58': Mata off, Kalou on. Pace is required over guile it seems.
- 58': Lampard's kick flies up in the air and Puyol heads over.
- 59': Cech goes in the book for timewasting. That's the crowd helping out the ref there.
- 60': Sanchez is there again in the box, but Chelsea keep him out and it's another goal kick. He took it a bit quicker now. Not sure Chelsea could cope with nine men.
- 61': Cuenca beats Ramires and his ball in is cleared in front of Cech by Ivanovic.
- 61':
Lionel Messi fails to restore Barca's advantage as he strikes a penalty against the crossbar - 62': Great passing again. The ball finds Iniesta, who slips it to Cuenca and the youngster hits his shot right at Cech. He did well to come out and block.
- 63': The corner comes in and Puyol is free. His header is really poor though and loops up instead of finding the target.
- 64': Drogba does well to win a corner. There's only three players in there and Ivanovic gets his head on it. Oh, he was free! It comes off his shoulder and that could have been game over!
- 65': Remember that moment. If Barca win, then Ivanovic will hang his head more than most. (Perhaps not JT though).
- 66': Barca are still working their passes around the box, but Chelsea are standing firm.
- 66': Alves chips it in, but Ramires is there to head behind as Fabregas was closing in.
- 67': Drogba gets it off Alves and he seems to be the best defender of the lot.
- 68': Cuenca off and Tello comes on. He had a poor game v Real Madrid so will want to impress.
- 68': What a ball from Lampard, he turned it around the corner for Kalou and the defence was split. He dithered on the ball and Valdes came out to block. Another great chance for the ten-man Blues to kill this off.
- 69': Drogba is down and hurt(?). Barca didn't put the ball out, but they didn't have to as they are well aware of his tricks. The Blues are annoyed though.
- 70': Last 20 minutes and Barcelona need to score; Chelsea must hold on.
- 70': Messi booked. He lost the ball to Lampard and hauled him down when he was breaking away.
- 71': Not often you see the little man get booked, but it's a sign of Barca's frustration. They can't seem to break down the Blues.
- 72': Lampard now in the book. A tough tackle on Fabregas and it was very late.
- 72': Chelsea's back five are doing well to keep on top of the Barca attacks and are hoofing the ball clear at every chance.
- 73': Messi and Iniesta combine and the shot is blocked. Xavi also has a shot blocked and Kalou is back defending. Barca looking dangerous, but there is a wall in front of them.
- 74': Fabregas off, Keita on.
- 75': Keita's first touch is a blocked shot in the box. Good movement, but it was well marshalled.
- 75': Drogba back to defend and it's all hands to the pump. So many players in the Chelsea box. Hard to see how Barca can make space.
- 76': Mascherano has to scamper back to stop Ramires after a sloppy ball from Kalou. The Blues still have a chance on the break.
- 77': Iniesta tries a shot, and there needs to be more of that. A deflection or something could win this game.
- 78': Iniesta's ball in is headed out and Busquets has it in space on the edge of the area. He can't control the volley and it flies over.
- 79': Barca crossing with few tall enough to make an impact in the box. But they will continue to try and make space as best they can.
- 79': Tello takes on Kalou, but the Chelsea man comes out on top. Impressive defending. This is starting to become a real effort from the Blues.
- 80': Drogba off, Torres comes on. A bit of pace and energy up front could kill off the game.
- 81': Torres needs to do his defensive duty as well: Stop Alves down the right.
- 81': Keita is almost playing as a striker here, as the ball is floated in to him again. Barca look like they might be out of ideas.
- 82': It's in the net from Sanchez, but Alves was offside. Torres left him, but he was just off.
- 83': Messi hits the post. The best player in the world cuts inside and hammers it past Cech. It slams off the woodwork.
- 83': Wow that was close. Are the football Gods smiling on the Blues tonight? Cech might just have got some fingertips on that one.
- 83': Torres was one-on-one with Mascherano, but he lost control of the ball. That was a really good chance for a fresh player.
- 84': Messi gives the ball away and is looking tired. That might have been his last effort. Barca building, but the wall is still there.
- 85': Bosingwa heads clear from Alves' cross. Torres is not doing his job down the Chelsea left.
- 86': Messi is running at the defence again. He is being harried, but Cole gets ball away before he could penetrate.
- 87': Time running out now and Pep Guardiola is running around on the sidelines directing the troops. It would be a monumental effort from the Blues if they can hold on for five minutes.
- 88': Messi and Keita fail to combine and Cech has the ball safely. A punt upfield and here we go again.
- 89': Meireles is booked and now he's out of the final as well.
- 89': If they do make it, the youth squad will be delighted. Most of them will be playing.
- 89': Messi curls it in, but Ivanovic is there to head out. Mascherano smashes it from distance and Cech palms it behind.
- 90': Puyol with the header over and we're into added time. 3 minutes of stoppage time.
- 91': Tello loses the ball and it's booted upfield. So tense. Can they do it?
- 91': GOAL Torres scores! Incredible stuff.
- 91': The ball was in the Barcelona box, but then it was hammered up the other end and Torres found himself free. He took it round Valdes and made it 2-2.
- 91': Great composure from the £50m man, and that is a huge goal. It's over now. Chelsea are into the final after an impossible task.
- 92': Not even kicked off yet, the celebrations went on and on. And so deserved.
- 93': Drogba is waiting to celebrate. Puyol is up at the front, but they can't do anything now.
- 94': Iniesta has a shot, but it's not 2009. It's over.
- 94': FULL-TIME: Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea. The Blues have tamed Barca on their own pitch. A red card, a missed penalty and four goals. What more could you want? Chelsea are into the final.
- 0': Where to start? Chelsea defended manfully after John Terry's sending off and didn't concede in the second half. Torres put the finishing touches on it, but they will struggle to put out a team in the final.
- 0': No Terry, no Ivanovic, no Ramires, no Ivanovic. But who cares? They are into the final and they have a chance to lift Europe's top prize.
- 0': Barca can be stopped; they could not break down the Blues and desire showed through in the end. One of the best games of football ever. Now onto Real Madrid v Bayern Munich.
Statistics
 CHE |
BAR |
|
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Fouls | 8 |
| 6 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 1 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 1 | Offsides | 1 |
| 1 | Corner Kicks | 10 |
| 4 | Saves | 1 |
| 17.5 | Possession | 82.5 |
| 7 | SHOTS | 23 |
| 3 | ON GOAL | 6 |
| 0.4 | On Target % | 0.3 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 94 | Accurate Passes | 672 |
| 145 | Passes | 745 |
| 0.6 | Pass Completion % | 0.9 |
| 1 | Accurate Crosses | 5 |
| 2 | Crosses | 25 |
| 0.5 | Cross % | 0.2 |
| 29 | Long Balls | 35 |
| 11 | Accurate Long Balls | 30 |
| 0.4 | Long Balls % | 0.9 |
| 0 | Blocked Shots | 7 |
| 17 | Effective Tackles | 16 |
| 24 | Tackles | 18 |
| 0.7 | Tackle % | 0.9 |
| 0 | Interceptions | 0 |
| 29 | Effective Clearances | 8 |
| 60 | Clearances | 10 |
Game Information
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Venue: Spotify Camp Nou
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Attendance: 95,845
Venue: Spotify Camp Nou
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Attendance: 95,845
Line-Ups
Barcelona (3-4-2-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Víctor Valdés (GK) |
| 3 | Gerard Piqué |
| 5 | Carles Puyol |
| 14 | Javier Mascherano |
| 16 | Sergio Busquets |
| 6 | Xavi |
| 8 | Andrés Iniesta |
| 39 | Isaac Cuenca |
| 9 | Alexis Sánchez |
| 4 | Cesc Fàbregas |
| 10 | Lionel Messi |
Chelsea (4-1-4-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Petr Cech (GK)  |
| 26 | John Terry  |
| 24 | Gary Cahill |
| 3 | Ashley Cole |
| 2 | Branislav Ivanovic |
| 8 | Frank Lampard |
| 16 | Raul Meireles |
| 12 | John Obi Mikel |
| 7 | Ramires |
| 10 | Juan Mata |
| 11 | Didier Drogba |
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