Source: Eurosport
Battling Blues frustrate Barcelona
Chelsea's defensive discipline earned them a precious 0-0 draw at Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.Coach Guus Hiddink's pre-match prediction that the first leg of this semi-final tie would be saturated in goals proved incorrect as Chelsea put in a highly competent defensive shift.Hiddink's tactic of giving holding roles to both John Obi Mikel and Michael Ballack worked superbly and Lionel Messi was marked out of the contest by Jose Bosingwa.Barca's strike force of Samuel Eto'o, Messi and Thierry Henry have scored 90 goals between them in all competitions so far this season.But Henry proved to be Barca's real danger man when he twice forced Petr Cech into important saves in the opening half.However, to a man, Chelsea were defiant and disciplined with full-backs Branislav Ivanovic and Bosingwa faultless while John Terry and Alex were solid as a rock.Hiddink will be more than pleased with the night's work and Chelsea should have enough in their artillery to go on and finish the job in the return match next week.The atmosphere in the stadium was electric with the Nou Camp faithful in full voice.The hosts almost grabbed an early lead when a free-kick from the left reached Samuel Eto'o at the far post after Cech misread the flight of the ball. However, the Cameroon striker's far-post header flashed across the face of the goal with Rafael Marquez unable to connect.Cech was in trouble again in the 11th minute when he surprisingly opted to punch clear a cross by Eric Abidal.Luckily for the Czech, none of the Barcelona forwards were quick enough to capitalise on his error.But Barcelona soon gained control of the midfield and when Messi slipped Daniel Alves clear, the full-back's dangerous low cross was cleared decisively by Alex.Moments later, Eto'o tried his luck from 20 yards but his low drive was more than a little wayward and Cech was untroubled by his effort.Barcelona pegged Chelsea back with a series of corners as the half-hour approached.Chelsea's defence repelled the danger every time but the Blues were forced to camp in their own half as Barcelona looked for an opening.In the 28th minute Xavi almost broke the deadlock with a long-range drive that flashed past Cech's right-hand upright.Moments later Ballack was booked for a foul on Henry but the Barca player certainly made the most of it as he rolled on the ground as though he had been shot.In the 31st minute though Henry was fit enough to unleash an angled drive that Cech gathered at the near post.Cech pulled out another outstanding save to deny Henry again in the 34th minute as Barcelona continued to test Chelsea's defensive resolve at every opportunity.Florent Malouda appeared to catch Alves in an off-the-ball incident and moments later the pair were involved in another spat which German referee Wolfgang Stark again chose to ignore.But Chelsea should have been ahead when a dreadful back pass by Marquez put Didier Drogba clear in the 38th minute but the Ivorian's shot was twice saved superbly by Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes.Barcelona suffered a major blow in the 50th minute when Marquez went down clutching the back of his knee and was carried off with possible ligament damage. He was immediately replaced by Carles Puyol.But the Catalans won a corner in the 58th minute from which Messi volleyed high over the crossbar from 20 yards.But Chelsea's defending had been admirable from the kick-off and Hiddink's side showed no sign of capitulating.Whenever the home side did break through they found Cech in their way. In the 61st minute he[LNB]
