Source: SKY_Sports
Chelsea v Barcelona preview
Chelsea and Barcelona meet at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday for their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg, live on Sky Sports 2 and HD2.[LNB] Following a tense goalless stalemate in the opening encounter at Camp Nou last week, the tie is tantalisingly poised and another classic European night - in a thrilling continental season - could be in store.[LNB]Depending upon perspective, Chelsea were either lauded or lambasted for their shut-up-shop performance in the face of their hosts' creativity in Catalonia, but boss Guus Hiddink is promising a more expansive approach on home soil.[LNB]Both sides know they must score in order to progress and that suggests entertainment value will rise in West London as the imagination and guile of potential treble winners Barca, meets Chelsea's power and desire.[LNB]European Cup holders Manchester United - who defeated Chelsea on penalties in last season's final - lie in wait after Tuesday's awe-inspiring victory over Arsenal, and both Barca and the Blues are desperate to halt Sir Alex Ferguson's bid to become the first man to retain the Champions League in Rome's final on 27th May.[LNB]DesireAfter seemingly throwing in the towel in the Premier League, Hiddink's FA Cup finalists have made no secret of their desire for a maiden success in Europe's pedigree club competition.[LNB]Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich covets the tournament, well aware that success brings global notoriety, and the billionaire - whose finances have taken a knock in the worldwide credit crunch - is desperate for Hiddink to work his magic before returning to his sole role as Russia manager in the summer.[LNB]Hiddink, who won the European Cup with PSV Eindhoven in 1988, will be boosted by the return of Ashley Cole after the England left-back missed the first leg in Spain due to suspension.[LNB]Cole will therefore be charged with the task of shackling Barca star Lionel Messi, with Jose Bosingwa, so impressive against the Argentine last week, returning to his natural position on the right-hand side of defence.[LNB]Michael Ballack is also expected to be back in the first XI after only making a second-half substitute appearance in last Saturday's Premier League win over neighbours Fulham, while striker Nicolas Anelka - who started at the weekend - could be dropped.[LNB]UnprovenPortuguese pair Deco and Ricardo Carvalho are missing through injury, while Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira will not be back in action until 2009/10.[LNB]Pep Guardiola's Barca - who could yet win the Primera Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League - have concerns over personnel ahead of their outing in England's capital.[LNB]Carles Puyol is suspended and Rafael Marquez has been ruled out for the season after sustaining an unfortunate knee injury in the first leg, leaving the unproven partnership of Uruguayan Martin Caceres and former United player Gerard Pique as Barca's probable centre-backs.[LNB]Having swept aside domestic rivals Real Madrid on Saturday, Barca's attention has switched to an away goal, which often proves decisive over two-legged European encounters, but as he looks to pick Chelsea's lock, Guardiola is sweating on the fitness of Thierry Henry.[LNB]The former star of Chelsea's bitter London foes, Arsenal, has returned to training after sitting out on Monday, but he remains a doubt ahead of kick-off.[LNB]
