-
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech makes a save - Source: Reuters -
View Photos
-
Related
Chelsea will take advantage back to Stamford Bridge in a week's time after holding Barcelona to a goalless draw in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
It was Barcelona who took the game from the first whistle, playing their trademark free flowing football, with Xavi and Iniesta pulling the strings in the midfield.
While Barca passed Chelsea off the park, they did find it hard to break through the Londoners defence.
Thierry Henry had Barca's two best openings of the first half. The French international stung Petr Cech's hands with a low drive after 34 minutes and then got the ball tangled in his feet after he had rounded the Chelsea goalkeeper.
And even though Barcelona peppered Cech's goal for most of the first half, this was not a convincing display from a team currently being hailed as the 'best in the world.'
When Chelsea did manage to break, it was Drogba, as it so often is, who raced down away after Rafael Marques played the ball straight into the Ivory Coast internationals path.
But Drogba's initial shot was saved, and instead of blasting it on the rebound, he tried to take it past Barca's keeper to no avail.
Chelsea came to life a bit more in the second half, but nothing like their tantalising four-goal effort against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.
The visitors managed just three attempts on goal during the entire 90 minutes, Michael Ballack headed Drogba's free kick over the bar just after the break, but they were thwarted each time by some great Victor Valdes keeping.
Piling the pressure
Barcelona continued to pile the pressure on a game that was increasingly becoming a jittery and cagey affair, Samuel Eto'o raced clear midway through the second period only for
Petr Cech to save superbly with his legs, and the Catalans could have been at least three goals up coming to the end of the clash, with substitute Bojab Krkic heading a stoppage-time chance over the bar from close range, Barcelona though, just couldn't connect with a goal.
This was the first match is which the Primera Liga leaders had failed to score at home in any competition this season as Chelsea kept a tight rein on dangerman Lionel Messi.
While, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola will have a problem picking his central defence for the second leg at Stamford Bridge next week with Rafael Marquez out for the season after a second half injury and Carles Pujol suspended following a booking.
Advantage Chelsea
Chelsea will now hold the advantage heading into the semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge next Thursday in the hopes of making it to the Champions League final for the second consecutive year.
After the clash Chelsea skipper John Terry, asked if Chelsea had
"worked Barcelona out", told ITV Sports: "I wouldn't say that, they
still dominated possession, but the performance and result was
fantastic for us.
"We go back to the Bridge with a fully fit squad and our fans
behind us and ready to go again," he added.
"You come here and you expect to get one or two chances. Didier
(Drogba) was unlucky with two chances actually, we didn't create
too many, but we didn't concede and that is very good coming
here."
To view all the action of the Champions League in
pictures
CLICK HERE
