19:45 GMT, Wednesday March 14th, Camp Nou (Barcelona, Spain), BT Sport
After preserving La Liga champions-in-waiting Barcelona to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea head to Spain on Wednesday in a bid to progress into the next spherical of the Champions League knockout stages.
Antonio Conte may be feeling aggrieved that his side don’t cross into the healthy with a more benefit after Willian, who always appears to excel on the very best European stage, hit each posts earlier than scoring, simplest to peer his aim cancelled out via Lionel Messi past due on in the first leg.
The Italian may be hoping that he can emulate his compatriot Roberto Di Matteo, who dragged his team to a Champions League very last win in 2012 notwithstanding the truth that his aspect have been floundering inside the Premier League.
This season, Chelsea discover themselves out of doors of the Champions League locations in English football’s pinnacle division and slowly drifting faraway from rivalry. As matters stand, a Champions League name will be the handiest desire for Antonio Conte to see his team go back to the top table of European football next season.
Barcelona, however, are flying on the top of La Liga, thanks to a 1-zero victory over closest challengers Atletico Madrid two weeks in the past.
Unbeaten in La Liga, there’s a feel that that is a new look Barcelona, with Ernesto Valverde emphasising pragmatism over the usually florid idealism that is worried the Barcelona style of play.
With their away intention, the Catalan crew are undoubtedly the favourites going into this one. However, as each Chelsea fan can testify, anything can take place inside the opposition.
Last Time Out
Barcelona 2-0 Malaga (La Liga)
With Lionel Messi missing because of the imminent delivery of his third baby, Barcelona made quick paintings of La Liga strugglers Malaga on Saturday.
When Luis Suarez headed domestic a Jordi Alba cross in the fifteenth minute, quick observed with the aid of a Philippe Coutinho heel-flick implemented to an Ousmane Dembele bypass, it seemed as even though the sport should come to be something of a procession.
However, regardless of the fact that Barcelona went into cruise manage and Samuel Garcia Sanchez became sent off for a risky mission on Alba, the Blaugrana failed to score any more, preserving their eight-factor league on the pinnacle of the desk.
Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
On Saturday, Chelsea laboured to every other win in the Premier League, regardless of taking a two-purpose lead inside the first 30 minutes.
With Willian’s twenty fifth-minute deflection being boosted with the aid of a Martin Kelly very own intention, Chelsea then didn’t rating for the remainder of the fixture.
When Patrick van Aanholt scored inside the 90th minute, Chelsea hearts will had been in Chelsea mouths but, in the end, Conte’s side came thru unscathed and can be satisfied with all 3 factors.
But for Ross Barkley and Tiemoue Bakayoko, neither of whom had been likely to be starters, Antonio Conte has a full squad to select from.
The large query is who to play up front: an off-shape Alvaro Morata or a limited Olivier Giroud? With Chelsea wanting to attain, anticipate Giroud to accept the move-head with the possibility of a -player strike partnership final a opportunity as the fit goes on.
Key Battle: Sergio Roberto (Barcelona) vs Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Having turned 27 years vintage in January, time is strolling out for Eden Hazard to place inside the sort of performance at the European level in order to cement his region amongst the European elite.
Despite the truth that the Belgian is being touted as drawing near a big move in the summer, that is the form of stage that could convince one of the large European aspects to put in a bid for him.
Hazard has been one of the few oases of wish in what has been an uncommon season for Chelsea to this point. With a degree of freedom afforded to him at the left-hand facet, Premier League aspects have struggled to contain him, giving rise to eleven goals and three assists inside the English pinnacle division.
Sergio Roberto, then, will have his work cut out in tracking the Chelsea forward, looking to pass with Hazard as he drifts via the half of-spaces and into extra critical areas.
If he can do this well, Chelsea’s most threatening attacking participant might be blunted which, at the balance of this season, could be sufficient to position the West London aspect out of the event.
Talking Points
To assault? Or no longer to attack?
Much has been made from Ernesto Valverde’s pragmatism through the first a part of the season – a pragmatism that led him to gambling Barcelona in a four-four-2 for an awful lot of the season with Paulinho an integral a part of the set-up.
Now, with Philippe Coutinho (who’s cup-tied for this sport) and Ousmane Dembele available for choice, it raises a question as to whether the Barcelona teach can have the funds for to mix things up tactically and push for a extra attacking brand of play.
Against Malaga at the weekend and without an about-to-turn out to be-a-father-for-the-1/3-time Lionel Messi, Valverde played his team in a 4-three-three.
Of course, why exchange a prevailing system at this stage of the opposition, in particular in a sport in which you need to keep away from conceding. However, it will be thrilling to peer if Valverde switches matters up going into the sport.
Can Chelsea’s device work?
One of the stories of this season has been the predictability of Chelsea’s lineup and the convenience with which it is able to be neutralised.
Playing a 3-four-three, Chelsea have observed themselves neutralised on a number of events clearly by means of being matched participant for player in a three-four-3. With man to guy coverage, the end result is a snarling up of play within the midfield areas and an incapacity for the the front three to find space in opposition to a returned 3.
In this sport, with Valverde possibly to play four on the back, Conte need to try and get the most of a the front 3 which includes Hazard, Willian and Giroud/Morata. Their handiest wish of a quarterfinal berth is scoring and so Chelsea must take the initiative early.
Prediction: Barcelona 2-0 Chelsea
Despite the promising performance of the first leg, it’s hard to see Chelsea pulling off a bring about Barcelona. Expect Barcelona to attain an early intention, keep Chelsea off after which rating late on because the away side push for desires.