CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BARCELONA – CHELSEA
Barcelona after the one-to-one result of the first leg played at Stamford Bridge is favored for the passage of the round according to the odds of the bookmakers, as it was already at the time of the draw. Chelsea is one of the teams with the best recent tradition in the Champions League and it is no coincidence that it has been the protagonist of many unforgettable challenges with Barcelona in the past years.
The most beautiful memory for Chelsea is that relating to the 2011/2012 season when he managed to win at the Camp Nou the qualification to the final (then won against Bayern Monaco), while playing most of the game in ten for the expulsion of Terry. In 2009 instead it was Barcelona to pass the turn in a similar way, drawing at the last minute at Stamford Bridge with a goal from Iniesta despite the numerical inferiority.
The limits of Chelsea
In the last few years the two teams have not faced each other more for the disappointment of Chelsea, which has not managed to impose itself at high levels in this competition, from which it was even out last year when with Conte as new coach he returned to win the championship. The summer transfer market, as well as the winter one, was not much appreciated by the coach who had asked for further reinforcements to be able to compete until the end in all competitions. In the Premier League Chelsea is fifth in the standings and risks next year not to play the Champions League again. And in any case there should not be Antonio Conte on the bench, because the relationship with the management is worn down. And even with some players something has broken. David Luiz, a separate injury, has now been permanently excluded from the starting lineup. And Hazard after the game lost against Manchester City was very critical about his team’s game.
Count in the Champions League has never had much luck, and is so far the limit of a career for the bright rest. But the coach did not wrong to complain to the management, because its players are not up to those of the top club. Once again he will have to try to make the difference with a perfect match at a tactical level and of great intensity. What happened in the first leg, where he probably deserved to win one to zero, was not for an individual error of Christensen that favored the draw of the opponents. The problem is that Barcelona at Camp Nou becomes much more dangerous and difficult to contain.
The latest news on the formations
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde will not initially have Iniesta due to injury (unless he should be surprised at the bench) and also what could be a natural substitute, namely Coutinho. The Brazilian, purchased during the winter transfer from Liverpool, can not play in this competition having already done some matches with the “reds” shirt. The doubt is whether to replace Iniesta with André Gomes and play with 4-4-2 deploying Paulinho as a right-sided midfield. Or opt for 4-3-3 by sending immediately to Dembele field, arrived in the summer by Borussia Dortmund after the painful sale of Neymar.
With the 4-4-2, which is currently favored according to rumors of the Catalan newspapers, Valverde would give more balance to the team. However, he would send the most disappointing player on the pitch for performance in the season, André Gomes. And would move Paulinho in the role of external midfield where he makes less than from inside. The solution with 4-3-3 even more unbalanced would perhaps be more appropriate for the players available. And it could put more difficulties in Chelsea who will focus on the defensive phase and on the counterattack.
The possible choices of Conte
Conte has the doubt whether to play with two or three offensive players, leaving one between Morata and Willian on the bench. Hazard is sure of the place and will play either a playmaker or a “false nueve”. In any case it will be like a compact Chelsea, with the departments very close to each other and a constant pressing to try to close the most lines of passage to the opponents. Conte at the helm of Italy has eliminated Spain at the 2016 European Championships with a far less competitive team, as is this Chelsea with Barcelona. We’ll see if he will succeed again in the miracle, but the extra difficulties that do not suggest another positive outcome are the factor “Camp Nou” and Leo Messi.
The probable Barcelona-Chelsea teams
BARCELONA (4-4-2): Ter Stegen; Alba, Umtiti, Piqué, Sergi Roberto; Busquets, Rakitic, Paulinho, André Gomes; Messi, Suarez.
CHELSEA (4-3-2-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Moses; Kanté, Fàbregas, Marcos Alonso; Hazard, Willian; Morata.
Prediction of the Day: 2-1, UNDER 1.5 FIRST TIME
Odds: 1.50
Prediction Today: OVER 1.5 SECOND TIME
Odds: 1.83
Prediction of the Day: 1X + OVER 1.5
Odds: 1.36
