Created on: February 24, 2018 9:42 pm
Last Updated: February 24, 2018 9:42 pm
Barcelona vs Chelsea
On March 14, Barcelona host Chelsea in their Champions League last-16 second-leg at the Camp Nou.
Last week’s first-leg at Stamford Bridge ended in a stalemate.
After Willian had twice hit the post in the first half, the Brazilian broke the deadlock in the second period.
But Leo Messi levelled for Barca after mistakes in the Chelsea backline gifted the visitors an equaliser.
Barcelona’s double injury blow
On Saturday night in Spain, Barcelona were back in domestic action as Girona came to town.
Barca won the match with ease, but it came at a cost in the second half.
Ernesto Valverde lost two players to injury: Gerard Pique and Nelson Semedo.
Pique was subbed out the match in the 64th minute for Thomas Vermaelen.
Se marcha Piqué y entra Vermaelen. Por parte del Girona, entra Aleix García y se marcha Borja García. #MovistarPartidazo pic.twitter.com/8B1S52Fybd
— La Casa del Fútbol en Movistar+ (@casadelfutbol) February 24, 2018
The Spanish international centre-half has been struggling with injury problems for a while, and his exit against Girona was another sign that he’s struggling for full fitness.
Valverde went on to make three subs in the match before he was left to see out the game with just ten men.
SE QUEDA TENDIDO SEMEDO con PROBLEMAS FÍSICOS. NO LE QUEDAN CAMBIOS al BARÇA. Minuto 84.
Barcelona 6-1 Girona #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/6WCJO19koE— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) February 24, 2018
Pique in quite some pain. Looks like the knee again. Get him off for Vermaelen.
— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) February 24, 2018
That’s after Nelson Semedo hobbled out of the match with a bad looking injury.
Will Pique and Semedo be healthy for the Chelsea match?
Semedo se tiene que retirar del terreno de juego. Parece que ha sufrido una lesión muscular. #MovistarPartidazo pic.twitter.com/89AN6H2iGR
— La Casa del Fútbol en Movistar+ (@casadelfutbol) February 24, 2018
Barcelona 6 – Girona 1
Poor Girona were in the wrong place at the wrong time on Saturday night in Barcelona.
Perhaps they should have avoided stirring the hornet’s nest by taking the lead in the Camp Nou?
Girona took the lead after just three minutes through their excellent midfielder Cristian Portu.
Barcelona pulled level within two minutes. Leo Messi released Luis Saurez for the Uruguayan’s 18th goal of the La Liga season.
After setting up his team mats, it was Messi’s turn to return to centre-stage.
Barcelona’s iconic number 10 scored the go-ahead goal with a moment of single-minded brilliance.
Releasing he could beat one defender down the outside to score, Messi opted to turn inside, run against three Girona defenders, before planting a shot into the corner of the net.
Six minutes later Messi had his second of the night with another memorable goal.
Showing off his football genius, Messi fired a free-kick under the jumping Girona wall, to score from 25-yards out.
The half ended on a bum note for Girona as Philippe Coutinho set up his former Liverpool team mate Suarez for a killer fourth.
The goals kept flowing for Barca after the break. Philippe Coutinho curled home a stunner to add a fifth for the Catalans.
Luis Suarez chimed in with his second and Barca’s sixth in the 76th minute.
Also see: David De Gea’s huge new deal is bad for Real Madrid & Chelsea.
Man United vs Chelsea predictions: Preview, line-ups & football betting tips.
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