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Why a 0-0 score line might not be a “Camp Nou present” for Chelsea

A negative Chelsea side aided by a controversial referee saw Barcelona failing to score at home for the first time in this Champions League campaign. The Blues are only the second consecutive club after Manchester United to hold Barcelona in a goalless draw at the Camp Nou in Europe. Can they emulate the defending champions’ achievement by defeating the Blaugrana on their own field back in England?

It seems like Chelsea travelled to Spain to draw – or to keep a clean sheet at least and this is something that Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez was quick to notice. The midfielder poured out his anger at Chelsea’s physical negative approach.

“The result is unjust. I’m surprised to have faced such an ultra-defensive Chelsea side. They wanted a 0-0 scoreline and they got it.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s skipper John Terry was full of joy after helping his team manage a clean sheet against the club that is regarded to possess the best attacking forces in Europe if not on the entire planet.

"It's a fantastic result, and we'll be ready to go again at Stamford Bridge with our fans behind us."

Despite revealing his pleasure at keeping the Spanish league leaders from scoring, goalkeeper Petr Cech – who was certainly the main man behind Chelsea’s ability to hold off Barcelona – had some complaints regarding his side’s negativity.

''We wanted to stop them playing and then put them under pressure with our possession, which in the first half we didn't really do.''

Indeed, Chelsea had only three shots on goal compared to Barcelona’s nineteen but one of those happened to be a gift from heaven – after Marquez miscontrolled the ball at the back. But Drogba somehow failed to take the chance.

Such opportunities don’t come often in great games and Drogba’s failure to break Barcelona’s deadlock could prove very costly. If Chelsea rejoice about keeping their lines clean from Barcelona’s attacking forces, they could well regret the fact that they could have earned a surprising win at the Camp Nou.

Infuriated Barcelona to apply all their positive strength at Stamford Bridge

Home advantage might do a lot for Chelsea but a goalless score line also explains that the Blues will have to win at all cost before they can reach their second consecutive final. Guus Hiddink’s men suddenly look to have become favorites to progress to the ultimate stage, but Pep Guardiola hasn’t given up the fight.

"While I am coach of this team we will go out and attack in every game,” the 38-year-old former Barcelona reserve coach declared.

"I do not know if we will lift a cup in the end, but I can assure you that we will go on holiday without any regrets and without people saying we should have any.”

Samuel Eto’o and Johan Cruyff expect the Blues to hit them hard at the back in the returning fixture. Rafael Marquez’ absence through injury (the Mexican is out for the rest of the season) and Carlos Puyol’s omission from Barcelona’s next squad through suspension could have a huge effect on the Blaugrna’s fortunes.

“I suspect that [coach Pep] Guardiola will have a bigger worry at the back because he has to replace two great footballers like Marquez and Puyol,” Cruyff analysed.

“I expect that Chelsea will pump hundreds of balls towards Victor Valdes’ goal.”
Nevertheless, defender Dani Alves – whose cross to Bojan was just about to be the source of Barcelona’s breakthrough in the dying minutes of the game, is full of confidence ahead of Wednesday’s clash at the Bridge. Speaking to AS after Tuesday’s encounter, Alves retorted:

“Chelsea came here to draw and to ensure we did not score any goals. That’s their style of play and they are not going to change it in the second leg,”

“But we are going to go there with full optimism and we are going to continue playing our own game and creating chances.

“The semi-finals remain open and I am sure that we will have our chances at Stamford Bridge. They will have to sweat blood if they want to eliminate us.”

This might probably be the case if Barcelona’s Argentine playmaker Lionel Messi ups his game in London. The man that is considered by many as the world’s current best player failed to do anything at all at the Camp Nou, letting Bosingwa emerge as one of the best players on the pitch.

"I don’t know if it was caused by the pressure but Messi had a neutral game,” Chelsea’s boss Guus Hiddink stated reflecting on his side’s excellent defensive recipe.

“That can always happen on one night but there’s no guarantee that it will happen twice."

There is still a lot to settle between these two sides. Another clean sheet at Stamford Bridge would be key to Chelsea. But after conceding four goals in their last Champions League home game, the pressure is on Chelsea’s defence to show up once again.

Will Barcelona succumb for yet another time in two years to an English opposition in the Champions League semi-finals?

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