5 subplots to the Chelsea vs Barcelona round of 16 tie

Chelsea vs Barcelona. As soon as this draw was announced, everyone's minds went racing back to the classic matches that these two teams have played over the years- be it Ronaldinho's classic goal in 2005, the controversial decisions by referee Tom Henning Øvrebø and Iniesta's goal that broke Chelsea hearts in 2009, Torres' goal at the Camp Nou in 2012 that sent Chelsea into the Champions League final.

This year too will be nothing different. Football fans will be treated to a footballing spectacle as these two European heavyweights lock horns after 5 long years. As always, there will some intriguing subplots beneath the main plot.

Here is looking at 5 subplots from this blockbuster match.

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#5 The return of Cesc Fàbregas

Cesc Fàbregas during his time at Barcelona.

Cesc Fàbregas is a La Masia product- Barcelona's fabled youth academy. He spent 8 years at Arsenal before in his own words, returning home to Barcelona in 2011. However, he could never live up to the heights expected of him at Barcelona.

He finally moved back to the Premier League in a £27 million move to Chelsea. His time at Camp Nou did not end on a very happy note with fans apparently unhappy with him as his performances tended to suffer in the second half of the season.

Three years after moving on Cesc Fàbregas would be eager to show the Barca fans what they have missed and what better stage to show it than the knockout stages of the Champions League.

#4 Who will be Chelsea's left wingback to deal with Messi?

Jose Bosingwa famously dealt with Messi in the 2009 Champions League semi-final

With any team playing against Barcelona the left fullback position or the left wing-back position becomes incredibly important. With Barcelona's talisman Lionel Messi usually operating on the left side of the front three, the left fullback usually has a tough task.

In Chelsea's case, the left fullback at present is likely to be Marcos Alonso. Although he is very adept going forward, defensively he gets caught out sometimes. Chelsea have other options too. If all the centre-backs are fully fit, Antonio Conte can ask Cesar Azpilicueta to operate on the left side of the defence. Victor Moses and Davide Zappacosta can also play in that position if asked.

Guus Hiddink in 2009 famously shifted the right-footed Jose Bosingwa to the left-back position to stop Messi from cutting from the left and the move paid rich dividends. Antonio Conte can also play the same trick and ask right footed Azpi to play in that position.

No matter who plays, it is going to be extremely intriguing to see how he performs against Lionel Messi over the course of 180 minutes.

#3 Can Morata continue his good record against Spanish clubs?

Chelsea's fortunes rest on Morata and Hazard

Alvaro Morata has quite a good record against Spanish opposition in the Champions League. He was instrumental in Juventus' incredible run to the Champions League final in 2015 scoring both against Real Madrid in the semi-finals and Barcelona in the finals.

Morata will also be extra motivated to do well having played for Barcelona's arch-rivals Real Madrid for a number of years. Eden Hazard, on the other hand, has always shown flashes of his brilliance, without ever becoming the world class player that he can become. Inconsistency has always been his bane, but this is his chance to finally break out.

Can Morata and Hazard inspire Chelsea to a memorable victory?

#2 Sergio Busquets vs N'Golo Kante, who will come out on top?

It's Kante vs Busquets

It's a shame that these two midfielders are not counted in the same breath as some of their more illustrious teammates like Lionel Messi and Eden Hazard. These two go about their job silently, week in and week out. They are incredibly effective just because they do it so efficiently and effortlessly.

This particular tie will particularly hinge on the fact on who wins the midfield battle between arguably the best central midfielders in the world- Sergio Busquets and N'Golo Kante? Both of them are incredibly intelligent readers of the game. They are adept at breaking the opposition attacks and starting a new one for their team. As their teammates bomb forward they also act as the defensive shield in case of any counter-attack.

This duel between these two midfielders will certainly be very exciting to watch.

#1 Can Lionel Messi break his goal-drought?

Messi has never scored against Chelsea

With 525 goals in his Barcelona career, Lionel Messi has terrorised the defences of any team he has faced so far, except perhaps one- Chelsea. The little magician has played against the Blues eight times and has fired 29 shots without registering a single goal. This is his worst record against any club over the course of his glittering career.

Even when these two teams met the last time, Messi uncharacteristically missed a penalty, hitting the bar from 12 yards out.

Messi broke his hoodoo against Petr Cech last year when he finally scored past the Czech goalkeeper after 10 hours of football. Will he able to do the same against Chelsea this time around?