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When the Champions League round of 16 draw was announced, it threw up one of the most dramatic matchups in the competition's history - Chelsea vs Barcelona. The Premier League champions are set to face the La Liga leaders in a two-legged tie to decide who moves on to the quarterfinals.
Chelsea has struggled for consistency this season and do not look as solid at the back as last season. Meanwhile, the Blaugrana changed managers in the summer to bring in Ernesto Valverde and are having one of their best seasons in recent history. The duo of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are in irresistible form leading up to the matchup.
However, there is nothing set in stone in the sport before the ball has been kicked. Hence, here are 5 strong reasons why Chelsea are more than capable of and will beat Barcelona.
#5 Biggest trophy left
After Chelsea finished a surprising 10th in the 2015-16 Premier League season on the back of a title win in the season prior to that, the London club bounced back by capturing the league once again in the 2016-17 season. Thus, the league champions entered this season's Champions League with great expectations.
However, the Blues are having a topsy-turvy season as they trail league leaders Manchester City by 19 points after 27 games. They exited the Carabao Cup in the semifinals against Arsenal and are set for a tough away match against Leicester City in the FA Cup quarterfinals. Thus, the Champions League remains the biggest trophy left for Chelsea, a trophy they last won in 2012.
Meanwhile, Barcelona is cruising in the La Liga with a seven-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid and are already in the finals of the Copa del Rey. While Europe's top club competition is definitely a must-win for the Blaugrana, they do not have the same reason as Chelsea to put all eggs in one basket.
Thus, it could come to which side wants it more in the end and the English side could very well cruise ahead of their in-form rivals.
#4 History
As mentioned in the previous slide, Chelsea vs Barcelona is one of the popular matchups in the Champions League with the duo facing each other 12 times since the turn of this century. In those matches, the Blues slightly edge the head-to-head with 4 wins and 5 draws while the Spanish giants have won thrice.
The interesting point to note here is that the London side are unbeaten in their last 7 meetings with Barcelona. While the La Liga giants went past Chelsea in 2000, 2006 and 2009, the latter won the ties in 2005 and 2012 along with getting the better of their opponents in the 2006-07 group stages.
Thus, these two teams facing generally throws form away akin to a derby. and Chelsea definitely holds the psychological edge going into the tie.
#3 Messi's Kryptonite
Players and pundits are running out of superlatives when it comes to describing Messi's magical feet and goalscoring records. The Argentine is already one of the greatest players of all time and whatever he does on the pitch is nothing short of superhuman.
In eight appearances against the Blues, the 30-year old has failed to score even once, the only opponent whom Messi has faced more than 4 times and did not score. For a player who holds innumerable goalscoring records for Barcelona, in La Liga as well as in the Champions League, this is an extremely interesting stat. In Chelsea's case, it could be a tie-winning one.
After all, Barcelona's game is designed to go through La Pulga and he has been in terrific form this season. Messi has plundered 27 goals so far this season and created 14 more as he looks to regain the Ballon d'Or from arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo. However, his goalless streak against Chelsea could prove to be his and the club's bane as the Barcelona no.10 will be in excess pressure to break the duck.
Thus, the Londoners are possibly the only club who know how to contain the Blaugrana's talisman. If they can do it again over two legs, then their chances of moving into the quarterfinals increase manifold.
#2 Eden Hazard
It is not just Chelsea who need to be worried about their opponent's talisman as they have one of their own who can turn the tie on its head. Eden Hazard remains one of the top players in the Premier League and when in form, there is barely any defender in the world who can stop him.
The Chelsea No.10 is once again hitting form in recent weeks with six goals in his last six league outings, playing either as a left winger or as a forward. Now, considering the fact that Barcelona's first-choice right-back in the Champions League, Nelson Semedo, is set to miss the first leg due to suspension, the Spanish side have more than enough reasons to worry.
Semedo's replacement will very likely be Sergi Roberto, who is no slouch but is primarily a midfielder. Thus, if Hazard starts on the left with either Alvaro Morata or Olivier Giroud up front, then the Belgian can put the tie firmly in Chelsea's favor before the second leg even begins.
#1 Antonio Conte
If Chelsea has a decent chance of beating Barcelona, then it all boils down to their manager Antonio Conte. While rumors circle around the Italian's future at Stamford Bridge, the Blues need every bit of his passion, experience, and, tactical nous if they want to overcome the La Liga leaders.
The former Juventus player and manager's counter-attacking 3-5-2 system is the anti-thesis for Barcelona's possession-based game and the 48-year old has the right players at his disposal to execute a previously successful blueprint. In the UEFA Euro 2016, Italy beat one of the tournament favorites, Spain, comprehensively to win 2-0. That day, the Azzurri put on a tactical masterclass, masterminded by none other than Conte himself.
Quality defense with good passing abilities, high-intensity full-backs marauding the flanks, a free-running midfielder to disrupt Spain's system and a robust centre-forward up top proved vital in Italy's win. Now, Spain's possession-based football stems primarily from Barcelona's style of play. While it has been tweaked in recent times by Luis Enrique and Valverde, the Catalan side's game remains the same at the core. Thus, Conte and Chelsea are well-equipped to deal with Barcelona's threat, despite the presence of Messi and Suarez.
The backline consisting of the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen can both defend and launch attacks. N'Golo Kante remains a superb destroyer and can single-handedly disrupt the flow of an aging Iniesta as well as that of either Ivan Rakitic or Paulinho. Hazard can wreak havoc playing as a left-sided attacker or as a second striker. Either of Morata or Giroud are adept at leading the line and are good headers of the ball, which will allow Chelsea to exploit one of Barcelona's few weaknesses, set-pieces.
Conte has the tactics and personnel required to beat Barcelona and if he can rally his troops for the biggest game of their season yet, then it will be Chelsea's name in the quarterfinals draw next month.
