Chelsea vs Barcelona Champions League Review | Talking Points

Chelsea faced Barcelona and the match was brilliant. Barcelona drew Chelsea 1-1 at Stamford bridge. Willian was the man to score for Chelsea. While Messi finally scored a goal against Chelsea , in his 9th match against them. Chelsea vs Barcelona Champions League match was expected to be a tactical battle between to excellent managers. The score line flatters as, clearly Chelsea was excellent at the game plan Conte set and Barcelona had a bit a luck for the game to end 1-1.

With that in mind, here are talking points of Chelsea vs Barcelona

5)Antonio Conte proved critics wrong

It was considered to be a match, that Barcelona will win easily. It was not the case as Chelsea suffocated Barcelona in the final third and game nearly nothing away.The goal they conceded was a defencive mistake and not Barcelona breaking Chelsea's defence. Antonio Conte knew he would not get much of the ball in the match and needs to be good in the counter. Playing Willian was the key as he proved fast counter attack to the team. He himself said after the match  "We were close to playing the perfect performance.We made one mistake. It is a pity and we are disappointed with the final result." On the team's performance bases Conte and his team won but the result and the tie doesnt looks at Chelsea's hand. The only thing that Conte did wrong in the match was not starting Morata. Pedro did not look good in the match and Hazard was not able to affect the game as a striker that much.

4) Valverde is the man Barcelona needed

This is fairly obvious to say now, with Barcelona in Spanish Cup final and 1st in la liga without a defeat. The fact remains, everyone raised eyebrows at his appointment. Barcelona is not the same Barcelona but a better more pragmatic Barcelona. He has changed the defensive outlet of Barcelona. Against Chelsea , Barcelona looked comfortable against counter and he is the main reason for it. during the match as well, he changed things around after going 1-0 down and brought in Vidal to help the team. He choose caution against Chelsea and was happy with one away goal. The only negativity was lack of pace in this Barcelona team. Last night that was the obvious problem. Barcelona did have the ball a lot of time ,but whenever they started a counter , chelsea's defence was back to stop it.

3) Messi finally has his goal

Before the match, it was all about Messi. Everyone had one question in mind and that was whether Messi can score against Chelsea. He not only scored against Chelsea, but gave Barca a crucial away goal against Chelsea. It was a defencive error, which led to the goal. Andreas Christensen played a loose pass and Andres Iniesta linked up with Messi, who scored his first Champions League goal against the London club. He was relatively quiet in the match, as he did not have space to do anything. When the team needed him, he came up with a goal. During the match as well it was 3 4 glimpses of him taking on the defence. All can be sad Messi will be a happy man going back to Barcelona and would be eagerly waiting for the 2nd leg.

2) Willian was the best player in the match

This was Willian's best performance of the season. How he did not get a hattrick, no one will know. He hit the post twice and scored a brilliant goal from him right foot to give Chelsea the lead. In a match where all the talks was about Messi vs Hazard, he outshone both of them. He was good whenever he had the ball, he drove forward and tried to link with Hazard. The fact that his two efforts hit the post, is the sole reason why Barcelona have left London with a happy face. Chelsea will need this kind of performance against Barcelona at Camp Nou from Willian to qualify to the round of 16.

1) The tie is in Barcelona's hand

No denying this, but Chelsea should have had won the game. The two post hit shots by Willian, may come to haunt them. Barcelona got gifted an away goal against Chelsea. The fact that Chelsea, needs to go to Camp Nou and have to get a goal to qualify is in itself terrifying. They have no chance to get to the quarterfinal if they think they can defend and counter at Camp Nou. Cesc Fabregas said after the match, "To play 90 minutes there defending -- can be a very long 90 minutes, it's basically a suicide mission. We have to feel that we can hurt them." The 2nd leg will be a cracker and Barcelona has the match in their hands.

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