Tuesday April 24, 2012 Semifinal Finished Camp Nou

FC Barcelona 2 - 2 Chelsea

  • Busquets 35’
  • Iniesta 43’
  • Ramires 45’
  • Torres 90’

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  1. Chelsea reach final after heroics

    Chelsea reach final after heroics

    Chelsea produced a heroic performance to reach the Champions League final with 10 men after a 2-2 draw with Barcelona at the Camp Nou. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • FC Barcelona
    • Chelsea
    • 90+3' The full-time whistle goes at the Camp Nou, and 10-man Chelsea are through to the Champions League final! What a performance from Roberto Di Matteo's side, who draw 2-2 with Barcelona on the night and reach the tournament showpiece in Munich!
    • 90+2' Chelsea will run down the clock, and the Blues are celebrating wildly on the touchline!
    • 90+1' GOAL!!!!! TORRES SCORES FOR CHELSEA! Would you believe it? What a goal for Chelsea as Torres is put clean through on goal and he rounds Valdes before sliding the ball into the empty net to put Chelsea through to the Champions League final!!!
    • 90' There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this second half - can Chelsea cling on?
    • 89' Cech makes another fine save down low to his left, and Barcelona are really struggling to carve out a third goal!
    • 88' Meireles is booked for a late trip on the rampaging Alves, and he will now be out of the final as well.
    • 87' Torres skips past two challenges, but loses the ball to Mascherano and he cannot keep possession.
    • 86' Alves loses his composure entirely as he slices a shot wide of the near post, and that was poor from the defender.
    • 85' Barcelona build once more from inside the Chelsea box, and Cole defends superbly to turn the ball behind for a corner.
    • 84' Alves has not looked himself at all since coming on, and he loses the ball outwide on the right once more as Ramires brings the ball clear.
    • 83' MESSI HITS THE POST! The forward finds a touch of space in the box as he cuts inside, but his low shot rebounds off the post!
    • 82' OFFSIDE GOAL! Alves is fractionally offside as Sanchez finds the far corner with a precise finish past Cech, but it will not count.
    • 81' Keita fails to keep the ball in play down the left as the home fans are left increasingly frustrated.
    • 80' Drogba trudges off as he is replaced by Fernando Torres, and the Spaniard will be playing as the first defender here.
    • 79' A deep cross comes over from Sanchez after Drogba handles the ball in the Barca half with the referee sensibly allowing play to continue.
    • 78' Busquets is slightly off balance as he slices a tame shot over the crossbar from close range, and that's another reprieve for the visitors!
    • 77' Chelsea are continuing to defend superbly as Barcelona pile on the pressure in waves and waves of possession in the final third.
    • 76' Kalou is again very sloppy as he gives the ball away with an overhit through ball which was intended for Ramires, and that was poor.
    • 75' It is still Ramires's goal that separates the two sides in this tie, and what a finish it was from the midfielder! Can Barca recover?
    • 74' Fabregas sprints off the field as he is replaced by Seydou Keita, and Barcelona inject further impetus into their midfield.
    • 73' Barcelona continue to desperately search for that elusive third goal, but Chelsea are holding firm.
    • 72' Lampard is booked seconds later as he scythes down Fabregas, and that was a poor challenge.
    • 71' Messi is booked for a very cynical tug on Lampard in the Chelsea half, and that was a definite yellow card.
    • 70' Still, Chelsea stand strong in the face of a barrage of pressure from Barcelona, and the tie remains with the visitors as it stands!
    • 69' Despite all their pressure, Barcelona continue to look very unconvincing at the back when the visitors counter.
    • 68' What a chance for Kalou! The sub flies forward and latches on to a through ball from Lampard, but he crucially dallies in front of goal and lacks any conviction!
    • 67' Cuenca is now replaced by Tello as Guardiola also turns to fresh legs to reinvigorate his side.
    • 66' Cuenca and Iniesta combine down the left, and Chelsea continue to be boxed into their half.
    • 65' Ramires concedes a corner, and he is unable to clear away the danger as Alves plays further and further forward down the right for the hosts.
    • 63' What a chance for Chelsea! Ivanovic has a free header inside the box as Lampard picks him out from a corner out on the left, but the defender heads wide!
    • 62' Cech lumps a long ball upfield as Chelsea have some brief respite, and whistles ring out around the ground once more.
    • 61' Alves jinks inside two challenges and finds Messi, before Cech makes a fine save at the feet of Cuenca!
    • 60' Ivanovic makes another superb sliding stop as he dives in at the near post to turn the ball away under real pressure.
    • 59' Sanchez chases a loose ball as Xavi slides a pass down the left and into space, but this time the forward cannot bring it under control.
    • 57' Cech is booked for apparent time-wasting as he walks off to retrieve the ball for a goal kick, and that seems very harsh indeed.
    • 56' Di Matteo takes off Juan Mata as Salomon Kalou comes on in his place, and fresh legs are certainly required.
    • 55' STAT: Chelsea and Barcelona have each reached the semi-final stage of the Champions League six times in the last nine seasons (since 2003/04), the best tallies over that period.
    • 54' Barcelona continue to pile forward in their droves, and Messi will be desperate to atone for that missed penalty.
    • 53' A mini scuffle ensues as tempers continue to boil over, and Chelsea clearly feel very hard done by.
    • 52' Terry: "I've not had one booking in the Champions League this season, and I did not do it deliberately." Make of that what you will.
    • 51' Ivanovic would miss the final if Chelsea progress, incidentally. The drama continues!
    • 50' Ivanovic is booked in the aftermath of the penalty, and he will need to be very careful now.
    • 49' MESSI HITS THE BAR! Astonishingly, Messi hits the woodwork with the resulting spot kick, and justice appears to be done with very little - if any - contact seemingly made for the penalty.
    • 48' PENALTY! Fabregas goes down inside the penalty area with apparent contact with Didier Drogba!
    • 47' Ivanovic reacts superbly to turn the ball behind for a Barcelona corner after a barrage of pressure ensues once more.
    • 46' The second half is underway as Barcelona immediately settle into their passing game, and this is going to be a very long period for 10-man Chelsea.
    • 45+2' The half-time whistle goes at the Camp Nou, and what a dramatic 47 minutes it has been! Barcelona lead 10-man Chelsea 2-1 with goals from Iniesta and Busquets putting the hosts two-up with John Terry shown a straight red card for an off the ball incident. Ramires has pulled one back, however, and Chelsea are buoyed just before the break!
    • 45+1' GOAL!!!!! RAMIRES PULLS ONE BACK! What a run and finish from Ramires, who latches on to a through ball from Lampard before lobbing Valdes with an exquisite finish as the keeper flies off his line!
    • 45' Lampard and Mikel each lose possession but manage to win it back, and Chelsea have the ball in midfield.
    • 44' Ramires is booked for dissent, I can only presume, in the wake of that second goal and Chelsea are losing their discipline. Terry had already lost his altogether.
    • 43' GOAL!!!! INIESTA MAKES IT TWO! Barcelona are rampant now, and Chelsea's defence is threadbare to say the least. Messi and Sanchez combine, before Iniesta times his run to perfection and beats Cech with a clinical finish!
    • 41' Barcelona attack once more through Cuenca, but Cole defends stoutly and clears out of play. Replays show that Terry did appear to knock Sanchez, but the reaction was obviously hugely exaggerated.
    • 40' Apparently it was the referee's assistant who deemed it a red card, with the ref unsighted. I'm sure further details will emerge, but Chelsea need to focus on their defending right now!
    • 39' No skipper and no central defenders: Mikel has slotted in there. Chelsea are going to have a real struggle on their hands.
    • 37' What are Chelsea going to do now? They have no further defenders on the bench, and that's a huge incident - needless to say Terry and Chelsea were furious, but there was contact.
    • 36' RED CARD! What a shock as John Terry is shown a straight red card, and there appears to be very little in it, but Chelsea are down to 10 men! Terry appears to jostle with Sanchez and knees him in the back, and the forward drops to the floor!
    • 36' That's only Busquets's second goal in two years, and he celebrates wildly as Chelsea's aggregate lead is eroded.
    • 35' GOAL!!!!! BUSQUETS SCORES FOR BARCELONA! Drogba clears the corner, but Chelsea are not able to collect the resulting loose ball and Cuenca gets down the right, squares it to Busquets, and the midfielder slams the ball home!
    • 34' Fabregas wins a corner for the hosts with a rampaging run down the right, and he takes it with Drogba heading clear.
    • 33' Ramires shows good composure to jink past the onrushing Cuenca, and he proceeds to beat Alves before losing the ball to Xavi.
    • 32' Cech bides his time as the crowd get on his back, and he is given the hurry-up by the referee before he eventually clears upfield.
    • 31' Busquets and Drogba again tussle away as the crowd whistle, and the midfielder is doing his share of defending early on.
    • 30' Barcelona win a corner as Xavi tirelessly battles for the ball in midfield and drives a shot which comes off Terry. Chelsea clear the set piece through Cole.
    • 29' Busquets is helping out his defence and picks the pocket of Drogba, and Chelsea are looking dangerous with the occasional foray into the Barca half.
    • 28' Sanchez does superbly to retrieve a loose ball out on the left, but Chelsea defend superbly as a goal kick follows with the forward cramped for space.
    • 27' Barcelona have to make an enforced change now as Dani Alves, perhaps unfortunate to miss out, replaces Pique - the defender clearly never recovered from that clash with Valdes and Drogba.
    • 26' Chance! Drogba gets in behind Pique as he muscles the defender off the ball down the left on a lone charge, and the striker blasts a low shot wide of the near post from a very acute angle!
    • 25' Drogba making a nuisance of himself again. Clashing with Busquets and the ref has to seperate them as the crowd show their displeasure.
    • 24' Drogba has a very speculative effort as he volleys well wide of the far post, and that was never going to trouble Valdes.
    • 23' Di Matteo is furious with the referee as Drogba is penalised, but there is not much argument from the players as Barca keep the ball.
    • 22' Mascherano runs out of options 25 yards out and rather impatiently blazes a wild shot over the crossbar with Cech untroubled. Chelsea will not mind that.
    • 21' Ramires is penalised for a foul on Ramires, and Barcelona continue to keep the ball in the Chelsea half.
    • 20' Guardiola holds his head in disbelief after seeing Messi thwarted again, but the forward really should have given Cech no chance from that range.
    • 19' What a save from Cech! Messi plays a slick one-two with Sanchez, then Fabregas, before drilling a low shot on target, but Cech pulls off a fine reflex save with his feet! He should have scored.
    • 17' Xavi and Messi combine passes on the edge of the Chelsea box, and it's mesmeric passing from the hosts once more.
    • 16' Eventually all three players get to their feet, and Pique undoubtedly comes off the worst as he trudges rather lethargically back onto the field. We're back underway.
    • 15' There's a rather nasty clash as Pique, Drogba and Valdes all collide as they challenge for a loose ball, and all three land very heavily indeed.
    • 14' Pique brings the ball out from the back for Barcelona once more as a surprisingly direct move sees Cech claim a poor cross from Sanchez with consummate ease.
    • 13' Cole enjoys a few good touches of the ball outwide on the left as Mikel comes over to provide support with the ever-energetic Ramires further down the line.
    • 12' It's all Barcelona as Xavi dictates affairs from his usual position, 25 yards out from the opposing goal with Messi et al buzzing around him.
    • 11' Bosingwa comes on to replace Cahill, and it will mean a defensive reshuffle for Chelsea with Ivanovic moving into the middle to partner Terry.
    • 10' Finally, it looks as though Cahill will come off as he hobbles away to the side of the pitch once more and what a blow that is for the defender.
    • 9' Busquets, Xavi and Messi exchange passes deep inside the Chelsea half, and Di Matteo really needs to take control of the situation with Bosingwa poised to come on.
    • 8' Terry signals to the Chelsea bench for Cahill to be given two minutes to see if he can shake off that injury, but if it's a hamstring strain then that will be him done.
    • 7' Cahill hobbles off to the side of the pitch, and Bosingwa is warming up vigorously on the touchline now. Meanwhile, Cech sprints out to clear a loose ball as play continues.
    • 6' Cahill slips inside the Chelsea box as he battles away with Sanchez, and he could be in a spot of bother as he holds his hamstring and limps around rather gingerly. The physio charges out.
    • 5' Cuenca jinks his way down the right and attempts to beat Cole with a few step-overs, but Ramires helps out and is able to bring the ball forward for the visitors.
    • 4' What a chance for Messi! Sanchez unselfishly plays Messi in down the right of the Chelsea penalty area, but he drives his shot into the side netting with Cole caught out of position!
    • 3' Xavi dinks a precise through ball into the path of Alexis Sanchez as the forward gets in behind Terry, but Cech is quickly out to clear the danger.
    • 2' Drogba holds the ball up on halfway, before Messi trips Mata and Chelsea have a free kick, which is duly wasted as Pique then brings the ball forward from deep.
    • 1' The first half is underway at the Camp Nou, and Chelsea enjoy some early possession in their white change strip. Ramires and Cole exploit some space down the Chelsea left, with Valdes out to smother a loose ball.
    • 19:45 To say that the atmosphere is frenzied would be an understatement. The players emerge and the crowd go absolutely crazy with even more tiny flags than you see at Stamford Bridge on a Champions League night. Cuneyt Cakir of Turkey is the referee, and we're all set for kick-off...
    • 19:40 We're just five minutes from kick off now at the Camp Nou. It's time for a possession-related stat, because they seem to be pretty fashionable right now: Chelsea only completed 158 passes in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, the only team that registered fewer successful passes in a Champions League game this term was APOEL Nicosia (124, in a 0-3 home defeat to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals).
    • 19:35 "The 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge at least showed there is truth in the maxim that a victory has to be worked for. Chelsea won because they converted one of the few chances they had. And Barcelona lost for precisely the opposite reason: because they failed to convert the many chances they created." Those are the words of Eurosport expert Rafa Benitez. Find out what Benitez predicts for this evening's clash!
    • - Meanwhile, if you get fed up of following Lionel Messi, Xavi et al in action, you can always find out who wins the midfield battle between Mark Davies and Chris Herd at Villa Park. Ahem, Villa v Bolton
    • 19:30 Barcelona's 54-game unbeaten run at the Camp Nou came to an end at the weekend thanks to Real Madrid's 2-1 success. Coupled with the defeat at Chelsea last week, it consigned Barcelona to their first back-to-back losses since May 2009.
    • 19:25 So the big team news this evening is Dani Alves only making the substitutes' bench as coach Pep Guardiola makes two changes from the side that lost in London, with Gerard Pique and Isaac Cuenca drafted in. How will that affect Barcelona's offensive options and do you agree with the changes? Bradley Tucker believes Torres should have started with Mata in behind him and Drogba. Jonathan Yu thinks Chelsea will win 2-1.
    • 19:20 The latest Euro Club Index rankings see Barcelona remain Europe's top-ranked side despite losing to both Chelsea and Real Madrid over the past week. (Don't ask me...) Check out the rankings: Barca remain top
    • 19:15 Okay, okay, here's another few stats: Barcelona last beat Chelsea in February 2006 when the sides met in the last 16 of the Champions League. The Catalans won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. The two teams have met four times in knockout ties in the Champions League, with the Catalans progressing on three occasions.
    • 19:10 Joloccini reckons Barcelona will get caught with an overly aggressive approach with Chelsea prevailing 2-1, while Serge Blake believes Barca will win 2-1. Meanwhile, Graeme Souness thinks Chelsea are unlikely to ride their luck twice. Everyone has their own opinion, and this is how the satchel swingers go: Barcelona 1/4, Chelsea 9/1, Draw 11/2.
    • 19:05 Is Drogba a diver? Gerard Pique does not think so. A diplomatic Pique, who could be charged with marking Drogba in the second leg, said: "I believe in Drogba that, every time he fell down, it was because he was in pain, or he felt a kick on him. I don't think that, when Drogba fell down, he was trying to act or dive." What do you think? Pique quotes in full
    • 19:00 Roberto Di Matteo declared Chelsea were good enough to win the Champions League as he stood on the brink of leading them to arguably the greatest victory in their history. Barely seven weeks since taking charge and less than seven days after masterminding an astonishing semi-final first-leg win over Barcelona, caretaker Blues boss Di Matteo arrived at Camp Nou determined to complete the job. "We can do this..."
    • 18:55 So Chelsea are unchanged for tonight's second leg, while Barcelona make two changes with Guardiola giving Cuenca a start and confining Alves to the sidelines. What is your assessment of the two line-ups? Do you agree with the selections made? Get in touch with me on Twitter...
    • 18:50 These are now the confirmed teams! Barcelona: Valdes, Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Cuenca, Messi, Sanchez, Fabregas. Subs: Pinto, Dani Alves, Thiago, Keita, Pedro, Adriano, Tello /// Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Meireles, Mata, Lampard, Ramires, Drogba. Subs: Turnbull, Essien, Torres, Malouda, Bosingwa, Kalou, Sturridge
    • 18:45 Our own Alex Chick argued that anti-football is still football as he previewed this evening's clash between the slick, stylish, attacking Barcelona and a Chelsea side (perhaps prone to) wanting to "niggle, dive and obfuscate their way to the Champions League final". Armchair Pundit: Anti-football is still football
    • 18:40 This will be the 12th meeting between Barcelona and Chelsea in the Champions League. Only Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have played against each other more times in this competition (13).
    • 18:35 Pep Guardiola: "We will have to have balance between rhythm, pace, patience and intensity. We need to think that we have 90 minutes ahead of us and that with patience and intensity we can make it. Tomorrow there's no tiredness in the legs. Maybe in the mind. But in the semi-final of a Champions League, no matter if we play three days ago or yesterday - tomorrow we'll be ready to try and reach the final."
    • 18:30 Roberto Di Matteo: "I do think we will have to try and score a goal. I think that will give us a greater chance because I think it's going to be difficult just to play for a goalless draw. Barcelona will create chances against every team they play against, so we will have to try and score a goal for sure. We have to also try and limit the chances that they can create against us."
    • 18:25 TEAM NEWS: Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been passed fit. The forward, who has 63 goals in all competitions this season, was suffering from a gastric problem and missed training on Sunday. However, he will start at the Camp Nou. Barcelona are only missing David Villa, who has broken his leg, and Eric Abidal, who has undergone a liver transplant. Cristian Tello could be dropped after an unconvincing performance in the defeat to Real Madrid at the weekend while Gerard Pique could return.
    • 18:20 Didier Drogba travelled with Chelsea and the striker looks set to be fit for the do-or-die clash after missing Saturday's Premier League game at Arsenal with a knee injury. Defender David Luiz also travelled to Spain in what was a 25-man party, even though he is expected to miss the game with a hamstring injury. Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, Luiz, Ramires and Raul Meireles are all one booking away from an automatic one-game ban but this will not impact on Roberto Di Matteo's team.
    • 18:15 Welcome to Eurosport-Yahoo!'s live text commentary of the crunch Champions League semi-final second leg between Barcelona and Chelsea at the Camp Nou.

  • Summary

    • 90+1' GOAL!!!!! TORRES SCORES FOR CHELSEA! Would you believe it? What a goal for Chelsea as Torres is put clean through on goal and he rounds Valdes before sliding the ball into the empty net to put Chelsea through to the Champions League final!!!
    • 83' MESSI HITS THE POST! The forward finds a touch of space in the box as he cuts inside, but his low shot rebounds off the post!
    • 78' Busquets is slightly off balance as he slices a tame shot over the crossbar from close range, and that's another reprieve for the visitors!
    • 68' What a chance for Kalou! The sub flies forward and latches on to a through ball from Lampard, but he crucially dallies in front of goal and lacks any conviction!
    • 63' What a chance for Chelsea! Ivanovic has a free header inside the box as Lampard picks him out from a corner out on the left, but the defender heads wide!
    • 61' Alves jinks inside two challenges and finds Messi, before Cech makes a fine save at the feet of Cuenca!
    • 49' MESSI HITS THE BAR! Astonishingly, Messi hits the woodwork with the resulting spot kick, and justice appears to be done with very little - if any - contact seemingly made for the penalty.
    • 48' PENALTY! Fabregas goes down inside the penalty area with apparent contact with Didier Drogba!
    • 45+1' GOAL!!!!! RAMIRES PULLS ONE BACK! What a run and finish from Ramires, who latches on to a through ball from Lampard before lobbing Valdes with an exquisite finish as the keeper flies off his line!
    • 43' GOAL!!!! INIESTA MAKES IT TWO! Barcelona are rampant now, and Chelsea's defence is threadbare to say the least. Messi and Sanchez combine, before Iniesta times his run to perfection and beats Cech with a clinical finish!
    • 36' RED CARD! What a shock as John Terry is shown a straight red card, and there appears to be very little in it, but Chelsea are down to 10 men! Terry appears to jostle with Sanchez and knees him in the back, and the forward drops to the floor!
    • 35' GOAL!!!!! BUSQUETS SCORES FOR BARCELONA! Drogba clears the corner, but Chelsea are not able to collect the resulting loose ball and Cuenca gets down the right, squares it to Busquets, and the midfielder slams the ball home!
    • 26' Chance! Drogba gets in behind Pique as he muscles the defender off the ball down the left on a lone charge, and the striker blasts a low shot wide of the near post from a very acute angle!
    • 19' What a save from Cech! Messi plays a slick one-two with Sanchez, then Fabregas, before drilling a low shot on target, but Cech pulls off a fine reflex save with his feet! He should have scored.
    • 4' What a chance for Messi! Sanchez unselfishly plays Messi in down the right of the Chelsea penalty area, but he drives his shot into the side netting with Cole caught out of position!
    • 18:50 These are now the confirmed teams! Barcelona: Valdes, Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Cuenca, Messi, Sanchez, Fabregas. Subs: Pinto, Dani Alves, Thiago, Keita, Pedro, Adriano, Tello /// Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Meireles, Mata, Lampard, Ramires, Drogba. Subs: Turnbull, Essien, Torres, Malouda, Bosingwa, Kalou, Sturridge

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      4.4 5
      Defenders
      5 6
      Substitution Out26′ 4.6 6
      4.7 5
      Midfielders
      Goal 5.1 6
      Substitution Out74′ 4.9 6
      5.2 7
      Goal Yellow Card 5.8 7
      Strikers
      Substitution Out67′ 4.6 6
      5 7
      Yellow Card 5.1 6
      Subs
      Substitution In74′ 4.1 6
      Substitution In26′ 4.6 5
      Substitution In67′ 4 5
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      Yellow Card 7.8 8
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 7.2 9
      Substitution Out12′ 6.3 6
      Red Card 4.4 3
      7.1 9
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 6.7 8
      Yellow Card 6.8 8
      Substitution Out58′ 6.7 7
      Yellow Card 7.3 9
      Goal Yellow Card 7.9 9
      Strikers
      Substitution Out80′ 7.7 8
      Subs
      Substitution In80′ Goal 8.4 8
      Substitution In12′ 6.8 8
      Substitution In58′ 6.7 7

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  1. chelsea play biannomik!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Terry, on Sun 29 Apr 12:32
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