Chelsea had two early targets disallowed within the first half towards Barcelona earlier than lastly taking the lead by way of a Jules Kounde personal objective.
Having already seen two Enzo Fernandez targets rightly chalked off, Chelsea lastly went in entrance when Marc Cucurella’s cross was inadvertantly bundled in by Barca defender Kounde.
Regardless of a robust begin towards the Catalan giants, the Blues’ frustration was rising after they have been twice denied the prospect to go forward, however three minutes after Enzo’s header was dominated out for the second time, a objective was lastly allowed to stands.
Chelsea vs Barcelona: Blues denied twice and Torres misses big likelihood
Enzo despatched Stamford Bridge into raptures after solely three minutes when he slammed the ball house after defender Wesley Fofana had discovered him contained in the field in what appeared like the right begin towards the Catalan giants.
However these celebrations have been stopped when referee Slavko Vincic gestured to point that he noticed a handball by Fofana when he introduced the ball down earlier than attending to the byline and discovering Enzo, a call which was confirmed by VAR.
The defender managed the ball together with his chest earlier than it ricocheted off his higher arm, which took him previous the Barca defender.
After pondering they’d gone forward, Chelsea have been inches away from going behind moments later when Ferran Torres discovered himself with acres of area contained in the field with solely Robert Sanchez to beat.
However reasonably than discover the web, Barcelona’s high scorer this season uncharacteristically put the ball extensive with Sanchez wanting properly crushed.
Chelsea’s optimistic begin continued as they frequently obtained the higher of Barca’s excessive line and so they have been as soon as once more denied the prospect to go forward when Enzo thought he had scored once more on 24 minutes.
A free-kick on the left-hand facet was swung in and ultimately headed in by the Argentine, however Trevoh Chalobah was offside when he made a slight contact on its approach to objective.
They have been to not be denied although as they ultimately did discover the web when Cucurella averted the offside flag earlier than his cross discovered the best way of Kounde, who couldn’t get his toes sorted in time because the ball hit off each his toes and trickled over the road.
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
Chelsea might be with out Cole Palmer as soon as once more as he continues to nurse the toe harm he sustained in an accident at house.
Estevao is as soon as once more the poster boy for the Blues, as he heads up towards Lamine Yamal within the battle of a technology.
Moises Caicedo is again within the staff, with Reece James as all the time, entrusted to guide Chelsea out underneath the lights.
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella, James, Caicedo, Estevao, Enzo, Garnacho, Neto
BARCELONA TEAM NEWS
Midfield lynchpin Pedri is unquestionably out however Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Balde and Frenkie de Jong return to the squad.
Rashford missed the Athletic recreation on account of a heavy chilly, Balde obtained a blow to the pinnacle in the identical recreation whereas De Jong was suspended.
Whereas the on mortgage Manchester United man is again concerned, he’s solely match sufficient for the bench towards his outdated Premier League foes.
Barcelona: Garcia, Balde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Kounde, E. Garcia, De Jong, Lopez, Torres, Lewandowski, Yamal
Tips on how to watch Chelsea v Barcelona: TV and on-line streams
Chelsea versus Barcelona kicks off tonight at 8pm UK time. You may watch it within the UK on Amazon Prime and stream it on the Amazon Prime Video app.
It’s out there by way of local Champions League rights holders in different international locations, together with the USA.
Stats for Chelsea v Barcelona
- Chelsea have solely misplaced one in all their final 9 conferences with Barcelona within the Champions League
- Since 2013-14, Barcelona have solely misplaced two of their 9 away video games towards English sides within the Champions League (W6 D1)
- English groups have received 9 of their final 10 video games towards Spanish sides within the Champions League (L1), with the one exception being Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Newcastle in September
