Lionel Messi celebrates with Andres Iniesta after scoring for Barcelona in their 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie last night.

Chelsea: Willian strike cancelled out as Blues fail to make most of chances against Barcelona

CHELSEA 1 BARCELONA 1

Lionel Messi broke his goal duck against Chelsea to deny Antonio Conte’s side a crucial lead over Barcelona in their Champions League showdown.

The Argentinian superstar had not scored in his previous eight meetings against the Blues, but put that anomaly right with 15 minutes left to secure a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had gone ahead through Willian, who had earlier been twice denied by a post.

But Blues boss Conte will be having nightmares about the equaliser, with his side unable to hold on for a crucial advantage to take to the Nou Camp for the second leg in three weeks.

The showdown between the English title holders and Spain’s championselect was also billed as Messi against Eden Hazard, with the two illustrious number 10s facing each other for the first time at club level.

Hazard, spearheading the Chelsea attack with Willian and Pedro tucked in behind, certainly looked in the mood to show he deserves to be mentioned in such exalted company and fizzed an early 25-yard drive narrowly high and wide. But it was Messi who eventually came out on top.

Barcelona’s possession stats were touching the 80% mark during the first half an hour, but crucially they had not tested Courtois.

Chelsea, meanwhile, earned some respite when Ivan Rakitic was booked as he tripped a rampaging Willian, with Marcos Alonso’s free-kick held by Marcandre ter Stegen.

Moments later Willian collected the ball from Hazard, cut inside and crashed a powerful curler against the far post with Ter Stegen well beaten.

With five minutes of the first half remaining Willian’s snap-shot from the edge of the area clipped the post.

After the break Luis Suarez fizzed a shot across goal and wide, but it was Chelsea who broke the deadlock.

From a short corner Hazard spotted the Brazilian unmarked on the edge of the penalty area, and Willian took a touch before arrowing a low shot beyond Ter Stegen andinside the post.

However, Barcelona hit back with 15 minutes left, punishing the first mistake of the night from the Chelsea defence.

Christensen’s pass across goal left Cesar Azpilicueta scrambling in vain and allowed Iniesta to cut the ball back to Messi. He had been denied with his last 29 efforts on goal against Chelsea, but made no mistake with number 30.

In last night’s other Champions League clash, Bayern Munich made the most of home advantage with a 5-0 win over Besiktas.

There were doubles for Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski, while Kingsley Coman also found the net.

The Turkish side weren’t helped by having Domagoj Vida sent off after just 16 minutes.

PA.

Picture: PA. Willian gives Chelsea the lead against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.