Dogged Chelsea hold Barca to stalemate
Petr Cech was back to his best for Cheslea
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Tuesday, 28, Apr 2009 10:02
Chelsea became the first team to stop Barcelona scoring at the Nou Camp this season as the first-leg of the Champions League semi-final ended 0-0.
Chelsea tried to nullify the attacking threat of Barcelona by playing five men in midfield with Michael Essien in an unfamiliar right midfield position and Jon Obi Mikel coming into central midfield alongside Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack.
The ploy looked to be working for the first quarter of the game as Barcelona rarely threatened the Chelsea goal, as the Blues were happy to have 10 men behind the ball and leave Didier Drogba up-front on his own.
Barcelona were forced to try their luck from distance with Xavi having an effort whistle just past the Chelsea bar and Thierry Henry saw a low shot well saved by Petr Cech.
Chelsea had barely had a sniff of the Barca goal in the first-half, with Victor Valdes nothing more than a spectator. But the Barcelona keeper was forced into action late in the half as the best chance of the game so far fell to the English side.
A dreadful back pass from Rafael Marquez let Drogba through on the Barcelona goal, but Valdes did well to save the Chelsea striker's shot and then did even better to get back up and thwart Drogba when he tried to lift the ball over Valdes.
The fans in the Nou Camp were beginning to get restless as the second-half followed the same pattern as the first.
Samuel Eto'o livened things up for a moment when he broke from the halfway line. The Cameroon international put the ball though John Terry's leg and then outmuscled Alex as he made his way into the Chelsea penalty area, but he was unable to beat Cech, who made a good save with his legs.
Barcelona had a good shout for a penalty turned down when Jose Boswinga looked to have pulled down Henry inside the penalty area, but the referee waved away the home side's appeals.
The Chelsea defence had been rock solid for most the of the game, but with the finishing line approaching, they left Bojan Krkic unmarked in the penalty area and Dani Alves curled in a delightful ball into the area, but Bojan headed over from five yards out.
Former Arsenal winger Alexander Hleb had a late chance for Barcelona, but an out-rushing Cech once again saved Chelsea as they held on for the goalless draw.