Champions League: Semifinals - Leg 2 - May 6, 2009 - Chelsea FC v. FC Barcelona [R]

[I-Got-The-BLUES]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JLk8Lxt59tw/SFAZJVRSWwI/AAAAAAAAAMo/kP7RcGK7lS0/S150/150px-Chelsea_crest.svg.pnghttp://www.lavidaamimanera.es/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/fc-barcelona-crest-150x150.jpg

7:45 PM GMT
2:45 PM EST

US TV: Live ESPN2 || ESPN2 HD || ESPN Deportes || 5PM Tape Delay ESPN Classic
UK TV: Live Sky Sports 2 || Sky Sports 2 HD
CN TV: Live TSN || 530PM Tape Delay TSN2<HR>
League Table Position

Barcelona: 27-4-3, 85 pts, 1st Place (+7 pts) (La Liga)
Chelsea: 22-8-5, 74 pts, 3rd Place (-6 pts) (Premiership)<HR>
Live on Big Blue (http://tv.chelseafc.com/)

Official Chelsea FC Website (http://www.chelseafc.com/page/Home/0,,10268,00.html)

News on Soccernet (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team?id=363&cc=5901)

Team Talk Chelsea (http://www.teamtalk.com/football/news/0,16370,1773,00.html)

BBC-Chelsea (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/default.stm)

Latest Chelsea News From Google (http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&edition=us&ie=UTF-8&q=Chelsea+)

Chelsea news from EuroSport (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/chelsea/)

Chelsea return home to Stamford Bridge, after being the 4th club to hold Barcelona score less after 90 minutes (Wisla [preseason], Numancia, Espanyol, Chelsea) and having accomplished what no club has been able to do in any competition this season, that is holding Barcelona scoreless at The Camp Nou.

Fans and a few others have applauded Chelsea's tactics in that game as a defensive showcase, and have revealed their opinions, stating that Chelsea have the upper hand to go through (http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/221/champions-league/2009/05/03/1243325/sir-alex-ferguson-tips-chelsea-to-oust-barcelona-in-champions-lea).
But opposition and many neutrals saw it as a display of negative football. Barcelona players and personnel themselves have described it as unsportsmanlike and unfair (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=641981&&cc=5901).

Well it all comes down to this, who ever wins this game goes through to Rome for the finals. A draw of any kind will see Barcelona head to Rome, so a desire (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/03052009/63/chelsea-reveal-wings-desire.html) filled Chelsea side, MUST win to advance.<HR>
Other Fixtures:

Tuesday, May 5, 2009
7:45 GMT (2:45 EST): Manchester United v Arsenal - Live ESPN2 (US) | ITV1 (UK) | TSN (CAN)

[Kazuma]

Going to have to record this. I have class from 12-3.

I'm hoping Drogba, Anelka, and Malouda show what they did yesterday. If they can, Barca's defense is in for a long night.

[I-Got-The-BLUES]

Chelsea went out and fielded a strong side against Fulham, and defeated their rival neighbours 3:1 (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/premier-league/2008-2009/chelsea-fulham-236965.html). Barcelona then decided to one-up their Champions League opponents, and double Chelsea's efforts against their league rivals 6:2 (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/la-liga/2008-2009/real-madrid-barcelona-242394.html).

This is now the 13th competitive match between Chelsea and Barcelona.
And the third time that this two clubs have met in the latter stages of the Champions League.

Barcelona have won 7 and lost 9 two-legged ties against English opposition. They lost at this stage last year to Man U 1-nil on aggregate.

Chelsea have won 3 and lost 4 two-legged ties against Spanish opposition.

Chelsea are in the semi's for the 5th time in 6 years.


Here's some interesting relationships:

Puyol, Xavi, & Guardiola are the only 3 remaining individuals who participated in the first Champions League encounter between these two clubs.
Xavi and Puyol were also apart of the Spanish Nation Team that suffered defeat to Hiddink's S. Korean team in the 2002 World Cup on penalties.

Ballack was also the sole goal scorer in the match that saw Germany eliminate Hiddinks Korean side in the semifinals.

Both Xavi were also part of the Spanish National Team that defeated Hiddink's Russian side in the Euro 2008 competition.

Seeing as the opponents in the finals for whoever makes could be Arsenal, Henry, Hleb, and Ashley Cole were apart of the side that lost to Barcelona in the 2006 CL Finals. Now Cole plays for Chelsea, while Hleb and Henry play for Barcelona.
Deco and Belletti who are now Chelsea players, were apart of the Barcelona squad that defeated Arsenal in the said 06 final.

Belletti has scored a goal for Chelsea while playing for Barcelona against Chelsea, but has not scored for Chelsea against Barcelona. Confused? Well 4 years ago in that thrilling match that Chelsea won 5-4 on aggregate against Barcelona, Belletti scored an own-goal, which was the only score for Chelsea in that first leg.

Gudjohnson has scored FOR Chelsea playing AGAINST Barcelona AND he has also scored FOR Barcelona AGAINST Chelsea. He's also suffered victory and defeat for each club against the other club!

The numerical stats are all basically the same as the previous encounter, so no point in doing that all over again.
But just to add some pointless numbers to this thread, and to recognize Barca scoring 100 goals in La Liga this season, here's the total amount of goals scored and conceded in all competitions for both clubs.

Chelsea: 98 goals for; 39 goals against.
Barcelona: 142 goals for; 45 goals against.

Oh and Bridge Monkee would like to remind everyone of Barcelona's lack of success against Chelsea when the match has ended 11 v 11. :p

[Robdog]

I am sure I will be watching this after recovering from a hangover....Cinco de Mayo...Ole'!!!

[sloppynachos]

Viva Tecate!:p

[sportscribe]

Henry supposedly out of the tie:

http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/05/04/1245315/thierry-henry-to-miss-barcelonas-chelsea-champions-league-tie

[addicted2chelsea]

We are fcuked.

[Belgian guy]

We are fcuked.

Why?

[Miguel Alvarez]

maybe you two should start a thread of your own. The chelsea fan not favouring his team to advance and the barsa fan thinking his team will bite to dust. Should be lively.

[Belgian guy]

maybe you two should start a thread of your own. The chelsea fan not favouring his team to advance and the barsa fan thinking his team will bite to dust. Should be lively.

I'm just saying, we didn't have a true, clear-cut chance in 90 minutes at the Camp Nou. We might be without Henry on top of missing two of our starting CBs, and even our first-choice central pairing struggled mightly the few times Drogba put them under pressure last week. You're getting back Cole for this game. If I were a Chelsea fan, I'd be more than a little optimistic.

[sportscribe]

Yup, Henry out for atleast two weeks:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_5277934,00.html

I'm sure Guus is making some minor tactical adjustments as we speak.

[sinner78]

Yup, Henry out for atleast two weeks:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_5277934,00.html

I'm sure Guus is making some minor tactical adjustments as we speak.


essien marks xavi.
The backline will then have the task to cover etoo and messi.

Drogba can cause hell in their depleted defence. Hiddink might even bring anelka in to partner him.

[feyenoordsoccerfan]

Yup, Henry out for atleast two weeks:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_5277934,00.html

I'm sure Guus is making some minor tactical adjustments as we speak.

Yeah, instead of a 5-5-0 line up he will come up with a 4-5-1.
Guus made clear that he only believes that Chelsea's chances to go through to the final is by hoping to win the penalty shoot out. At least you have a 50-50 % chance than.

[Cris 09]

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa221/crismerz09/b47c37d95411630242.jpg?t=1241415594

A little Tropic Thunder for you...

[I-Got-The-BLUES]

Yeah, instead of a 5-5-0 line up he will come up with a 4-5-1.
Guus made clear that he only believes that Chelsea's chances to go through to the final is by hoping to win the penalty shoot out. At least you have a 50-50 % chance than.Can you post a link to where Guus made it clear that a Penalty shootout is the only way we can advance? I'm usually up to date when it comes to these things, but I probably missed that headline.

And it was a 6-3-1 lineup, changed to a 6-4-0 in the 2nd half, it was only a 5-5-0 when Belletti replace Lampard...get your facts straight! :mad:

[feyenoordsoccerfan]

Can you post a link to where Guus made it clear that a Penalty shootout is the only way we can advance?

I'm usually up to date when it comes to these things, but I probably missed that headline.

And it was a 6-3-1 lineup, changed to a 6-4-0 in the 2nd half...get your facts straight! :mad:

He didnot say it and he didnot need to say it as he wrote it with his tactics in Barcelona on the Nou Camp pitch. You can read between the lines.. up:D

[Ben7021]

he didnot say it and he didnot need to say it as he wrote it with his tactics in barcelona on the nou camp pitch. You can read between the lines.. Up:d

make it stoooooooooopp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sportscribe]

Hehe, well now they are denying reports of Henry's injury.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_5277934,00.html

As you were then.

[sportscribe]

Looks like the Barca camp is showing nerves tbh. Guus will have the team thoroughly prepared with his own gameplan whatever the case...

Come on Chelsea!!

[feyenoordsoccerfan]

make it stoooooooooopp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now you exposed the limits of my grasp of the English language:confused:
What does that mean?