Who: Chelsea vs Barcelona
What: League Part, UEFA Champions League
The place: Stamford Bridge, London, UK
When: Tuesday at 8pm (20:00 GMT)
How one can observe: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT prematurely of our dwell textual content commentary stream.
Chelsea will host Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday in a massively consequential Matchday 5 League Part conflict within the UEFA Champions League (UCL).
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Chelsea and Barcelona, each former Champions League winners, head into this extremely anticipated showdown with an an identical seven factors from their opening 4 fixtures, making this match pivotal as each side intention to climb the standings looking for automated top-eight qualification into the last-16 of the competitors.
The star-studded golf equipment are using current sizzling streaks with Chelsea, bolstered by a trio of current wins in opposition to Tottenham, Wolves and Burnley, closing in on the Premier League’s prime spot behind table-topping Arsenal, whereas reigning La Liga champions Barcelona are once more competing with archrival Actual Madrid for the home title.
Right here is all to know earlier than their epic conflict at Stamford Bridge:
What occurred in Chelsea’s final Premier League match?
Objectives from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez earned Chelsea a 2-0 victory at lowly Burnley on Saturday.
The consequence moved the Blues previous Manchester Metropolis and into outright second on the English Premier League (EPL) desk behind leaders Arsenal.
Enzo Maresca’s aspect will conflict with the Gunners subsequent Sunday in a top-of-the-table premiership showdown at Stamford Bridge.
What occurred in Barcelona’s final La Liga match?
Barcelona secured a dominant 4-0 victory over 10-man Athletic Bilbao on Saturday of their first match again at their residence venue Nou Camp since Could 2023.
Ferran Torres had two targets for Barca with Robert Lewandowski and Fermin Lopez additionally including to the scoresheet.
Athletic misplaced midfielder Oihan Sancet to a purple card within the 54th minute after he was despatched off for a crude problem on Lopez.
Lewandowski, who scored the opener, stated he’ll keep in mind kicking the primary aim on the group’s rebuilt Nou Camp stadium “endlessly”.
“Right this moment was a big day, not just for me however for everybody. Due to this I’m very blissful that I might rating the primary aim, coming again to the Nou Camp,” Lewandowski instructed Barca One.
“I’ve a lot expertise taking part in in several stadiums, however right here is one thing particular. I’m very pleased with myself and likewise of the group as a result of we did an amazing job at this time and we received.”
What occurred within the final UCL League Part match for each golf equipment?
Chelsea have been held to a shock 2-2 draw by Azerbaijan aspect Qarabag of their final outing on November 5, whereas Barcelona needed to rally from a aim down and break up the factors in a 3-3 consequence in opposition to Membership Brugge in Belgium.
The place do Chelsea and Barcelona sit on the UCL League Part standings?
Barcelona are presently eleventh on the UEFA League Part standings with Chelsea proper behind in twelfth place. Either side have two wins, one draw and one loss from their 4 fixtures.
Groups want to complete the League Part standings in a top-eight place to safe direct qualification into the spherical of 16. These golf equipment that end in ladder positions 9-to-24 will enter into a house and away playoffs to achieve the last-16.
The place did Barcelona end in final season’s Champions League?
The Catalan membership have been broadly anticipated to achieve the Champions League ultimate however have been eliminated by Inter, who staged a late comeback within the second leg of their record-equalling semifinal.
Barca’s Lopez displaying summer season suitors Chelsea what they missed
Fermin Lopez, 22, is establishing himself as an everyday starter for supervisor Hansi Flick’s aspect, though outdoors of Spain he’s not but a family identify.
Chelsea know loads about Lopez, although, having had a 40-million-euro ($46m) bid rebuffed by Barcelona in the summertime. In Tuesday’s Champions League fixture, the attacking midfielder can be one in all their fundamental aim threats.
Flick was keen to maintain Lopez, whereas Barca have been open to promoting him on the proper worth, which Chelsea didn’t attain.
“I’m satisfied that he’ll keep, however ultimately I don’t know what occurs. Now we have to attend. I’m actually blissful when the market is closed,” stated Flick in August, finally getting his want.
Regardless of his enchancment and apparent utility for Barca – or possibly even due to it – he’s an asset the Catalan giants might money in.
If he shines at Stamford Bridge, it might be no shock to see Chelsea’s curiosity within the midfielder reawaken and his price ticket rise additional.
Type information: final 5 matches
Chelsea: W-L-W-W-W (Premier League, most up-to-date consequence final)
Barcelona: W-L-W-W-W (La Liga, most up-to-date consequence final)
Head-to-head: Chelsea-Barcelona
The 2 golf equipment have confronted one another 14 instances, with each groups successful 4 instances whereas six ended as attracts.
The perimeters final met on the spherical of 16 within the 2017-2018 Champions League with Barcelona progressing to the quarterfinals 4-1 on combination. Argentinian celebrity Lionel Messi was the standout within the second leg with two targets – together with his a hundredth UEFA Champions League aim – on the night time.
Chelsea’s group information
Maresca has already dominated out star midfielder Cole Palmer from Tuesday’s Barcelona matchup, though the Chelsea supervisor is hopeful he’ll have the ability to return to coaching this week as he continues to get better from a groin harm.
Oft-injured Reece James was taken off at halftime of Saturday’s EPL fixture at Burnley, however the Chelsea captain’s early end was preplanned and never the results of a brand new harm, in response to Maresca, so he’s anticipated to be out there for group choice.
“The concept was to handle Reece,” stated Maresca. “That is the explanation why he performed 45 minutes [only]. It was deliberate.
“It’s not simple, as a result of me personally, I would really like Reece to proceed, however we have to defend Reece.”
French centre-back Wesley Fofana, who was omitted from the matchday squad in opposition to Burnley, is believed to be match match forward of the Barca conflict.
Levi Colwill (knee), Dario Essugo (thigh) and Romeo Lavia (thigh) all stay sidelined for the Blues.
Chelsea’s doable beginning XI
Sanchez (Goalkeeper); James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Pedro, Garnacho; Delap
Barcelona’s group information
On-loan Manchester United ahead Marcus Rashford missed Barca’s 4-0 victory over Bilbao on Saturday with sickness however was again on the coaching pitch the next day, prompting rumours that he would possibly swimsuit up in opposition to Chelsea on Tuesday.
First-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will miss the fixture as he continues to get better from a again problem. Joan Garcia will stand in for the German.
Pedri (hamstring) and Gavi (knee) are unavailable for the La Liga champions.
Dynamic winger Raphinha, who returned on the weekend from a hamstring harm, is a robust risk to regain his beginning function in opposition to the Blues.
Barcelona’s doable beginning XI
J. Garcia (goalkeeper); Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, De Jong; Yamal, Lopez, Torres; Lewandowski
