Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona – Messi Muzzled As Drogba Puts Blues In Semi-Final Driving Seat (Photos & Highlights)

Alan Duffy

18th, April 2012

21 Comments

By Alan Duffy


Has John Terry had his beloved captain’s armband tattooed onto his body?

Roberto Di Matteo’s plan to keep Lionel Messi subdued at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night came up trumps, with both Barcelona and the Argentine imp failing to get on the scoresheet.

The Catalans dominated possession but came up against a superbly disciplined Chelsea side. Cesc Fabregas saw his dink over Petr Cech cleared by Ashley Cole while Alexis Sanchez hit the woodwork.

On the stroke of half-time, however, the Blues broke with Ramires teeing up Dider Drogba who fired past Victor Valdes. The Ivorian spent much of the game diving all over the shop, but his physical presence seriously unsettled Barca at the back.

Late on, Carlos Puyol aslmost headed home an equaliser before sub Pedro hit the post, but Chelsea survived. The Blues still have their work cut out if they’re to come away from the Nou Camp with another good result. However, for now, the west Londoners can celebrate a superb result.

Photos…

Extended highlights…

Photos: PA

Posted in Barcelona, Champions League, Chelsea, Videos

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21 Comments

  1. dc says:

    I would mention Alexis hitting the bar as the best chance of the first half, along with cesc getting cleared off the line. in all, very unlucky to hit the post twice, we’ll see if that luck changes in les corts

  2. Scott says:

    Bayern vs Chelsea final?

  3. Alan Duffy says:

    @dc Have added that in! Thank you sir!

  4. Alan Duffy says:

    @Scott …and spoil Michel Platini’s dream of a Madrid/Barca showdown? Never!

  5. Dave says:

    Q. ARE CHELSEA’S FANS THE WORST IN ENGLAND ??

    They made more noise during Sundays minute silence then they did tonight. And as for the waving of those ridiculous little plastic flags, truly embarrassing !

  6. p says:

    lol haters keep hating

    barca supporters tried hard and never could be heard for more than 15 seconds maybe a handful of times the whole game

    and in the away leg its gonna be even louder chelsea support

    you can keep hating all you want

  7. Gaudi says:

    PARKED THE BUS!

  8. joe.satriani says:

    well i can’t remember cheering for Chelsea as much as i did today. very glad they are going to camp nou with a 1-0 lead, and if i were di mateo, i’d put 11 men behind the ball and defend as if my life depended on it.
    Chelsea are definitely the biggest surprise this season in the tournament as they were woeful in the league and had just been defeated 3-1 in Napoli.
    In comes Di Mateo, a likeable chap, and does takes them to semis. Not sure if he’s just lucky or a miracle worker, but definitely would like to see him be the first Chelsea manager to lift the CL trophy.

    I’m just hoping that barcelona doesn’t ‘UEFA’ itself through to the finals with 2 penalties, 2 sending offs, and other dirty tricks like they’ve done in previous seasons.
    If there’s such thing as karma, then there is no better time to fulfill itself than now

  9. newcassel says:

    Howay lads, Barca were playing at three quarters pace, thinking more aboot the Classico on Saturday. Even so they outplayed Chelski, outshot em and lost 1-0 on a sucker punch that a decent keeper would’ve saved.
    If they get an early goal next Tuesday then look oot for a 5-0 or 6-0 thrashing

  10. el_gilbo says:

    Ive felt it in my bones that this might be chelsea’s year!! I can see torres scoring in both the nou camp and against madrid in the final!!
    Otherwise it wil end up being both an all spanish champions league and europa league cup final

  11. Jarren says:

    @el_gilbo: Yes, it is rather depressing when you consider that the two European trophies may be contested by solely Spanish sides.

    Can Bayern & Chelsea hold on to their leads?

    Let’s hope so. It would make for a refreshing Champions League final.

    Having said that, I hope that the revenue a Real vs Barca final would bring in will not in any way influence the powers that be…

  12. Rob says:

    Drogba makes me want to vommit, he’s a diswace

  13. alejandro22 says:

    @rob:learn English …………….

  14. MrMac says:

    As predicted, my lovely chelsea takes the game by 1 goal.

    Drogba gets revenge – puts in a superb physical performance while taking a play from the gary neville book of diving.

    Absolutely fukkin brilliant.

    Not sure how we’ll actually come out alive from camp nou, but it gives hope… it gives hope.

    Torres will hopefully still be benched – he’s not the man to change things agaist a dominating posession barca.

  15. Anonymous says:

    @ newcassel……….a decent keeper???? Valdez is second only to Casilias – possibly the best keeper out there at present…!!

  16. gamblino says:

    Christ how lucky!!! They’re gonna get destroyed next week!

  17. SL says:

    Shouldnt that be “diving seat” with the amount of time Drogba was rolling around on the ground. 5 year olds have more toughness than him.

  18. aspers says:

    drogba is 10 times more of a cheat than ashly young, but hes not all over the headlines is he?

  19. Chimpo says:

    a tubbing awaits us…

    @el_gilbo- as a chelsea fan, this is satire right?

  20. sleeba says:

    Jesus!! This site attracts more moaners, haters, morons than it used to.6 weeks ago we were down and out and all the above were saying shite team blah blah blah. Sack AVB, we were a disgrace. Beat Spurs Sunday and it was all about the 100 or so drunken morons who every team has.
    Now it’s all about Diving Drogs. Barca have done the same in the past for their wins. Last night was about sticking one up to Blatter, Platini ect.
    Go on Chels win and win ugly!!!

  21. el_gilbo says:

    @Chimpo I think chelsea are as equiped as anyone can be to topple barca and win the cup. As a LFC fan i dont doubt torres producing in games like these, with some much needed hunger and belief he could get his edge back and earn a recall for spain this summer.

    I think a key battle and a way chelsea can gain some advantage at the nou camp is cole v alves

    I predict barca winning either 2-1 or 3-2 taking chelsea through!!

    Good luck Blues!!

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