This week will have a great impact on Barcelona’s fate this season. The club’s sporting director, Andoni Zubizarreta, is relishing the challenge.
“This will be a decisive week because we have been working to get here since July,” he remarked.

The Catalans humiliated Bayer Leverkusen in the Last 16 before defeating AC Milan 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals en route to the Last 8. The UEFA Champions League titleholders have a date against Chelsea on Wednesday.

On Saturday, they will face Real Madrid at the Camp Nou in El Clasico with the prospect of cutting the gap at the top to 1 point. Barcelona’s chances are bright both in La Liga and in Europe and Zubizarreta is hoping his team go all the way to glory.

“We have taken many steps to get here. This is what the season is all about. This is the best moment of the season,” he stated before concluding:

“Every player must be prepared for this.”

The question that currently prevails among a host of other interrogations is whether Chelsea will beat Barcelona. The history between these two sides is marred by controversy.

The most recent meeting, dating from May 2009, left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Blues and provoked conspiracy theories by UEFA among angry football fans. Referee Tom Henning Ovrebo was accused of making several questionable decisions which went against Chelsea.

The London-based contenders led 1-0 on aggregate thanks to a Michael Essien goal until a wonder injury-time strike from Andres Iniesta sealed Barcelona’s progress into the 2009 UEFA Champions League final in Rome where they defeated Manchester United to lift the title.

Revenge is firmly on the minds of the Blues while Barcelona are determined to retain the European crown they clinched at Wembley last year.

After Wednesday night's UEFA Champions League semi-final clash away to Chelsea, Barca will return to the Camp Nou to host Real Madrid in El Clasico on Saturday, April 21.