Chelsea looking to history ahead of Camp Nou crusade
MADRID — Since Lionel Messi started playing with Barcelona 15 years ago, few teams have caused as much trouble for the Spanish club as Chelsea.
Barcelona has been dominant with Messi against nearly every opponent it has faced in Europe — but not against Chelsea.
The English club is even used to doing well against Barca at Camp Nou, where the teams will meet on Wednesday in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.
Chelsea is unbeaten against Barcelona in eight matches, with four straight draws at Camp Nou.
Barcelona earned a 1-1 draw in the first match in London thanks to a late strike by Messi, who had never before scored against the Premier League club.
“It will be a hard match just like in the away leg,” Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said on Monday.
“They have a strong team that defends well in a block and has a great counterattack. We will struggle.”
Barcelona has been thriving again this season, with its only loss against Real Madrid in its first match of the season, the Spanish Super Cup final.
The Catalans have won 18 of their past 20 home matches since, with two draws — against Celta Vigo and Getafe in La Liga.
“We have to show great resilience,” Chelsea coach Antonio Conte said. “We are playing against one of the best teams in the world. We must pay great attention and have the same focus and concentration of the first leg.”
This is the first time Chelsea and Barcelona are facing each other in the Champions League since the semifinals in 2012, when the Londoners advanced 3-2 on aggregate after securing an astonishing 2-2 draw in the second leg at Camp Nou.
Chelsea trailed 2-0 with 10 men for most of that match.
The Blues also drew at Camp Nou in the Champions League semifinals in 2009, as well as in the group stage of the 2006-07 season and the last 16 a year earlier.
Chelsea is trying to make the quarterfinals for the first time since 2014, when it was eliminated by Atletico Madrid in the semis. Barcelona is looking to reach the last eight for a record 11th straight time.
Pogba poser
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho may be faced with a dilemma when Manchester United hosts Sevilla on Tuesday.
With Paul Pogba ruled out of United’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday, Mourinho’s side finally managed to find the balance it has been lacking in recent weeks.
If the France midfielder is available, Mourinho would have to drop Juan Mata or Scott McTominay, who were both excellent against Liverpool, to make room for him.
United, which drew the first leg 0-0 in Seville, is trying to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2013-14.
“The next game is very important for us, maybe the most important game of the season,” United midfielder Nemanja Matic said.
Sevilla is trying to make the quarterfinals for the first time.