Match Report: Tuesday 31/10/2006 20:45 (GMT +2): Champions League, Group A, Match Day 4
FC BARCELONA - CHELSEA FC 2:2 (1:0)

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 90.000
Referee: Stefano Farina


Goals:

1-0 Deco (3´)
1-1 Lampard (52´)

2-1 Gudjonsen (58´)
2-2 Drogba (93´)


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés - Zambrotta, Marquez, Puyol, Gio - Motta (Edmilson 57´), Xavi (Iniesta 83´), Deco - Messi, Gudjohnsen (Giuly 77´), Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Chelsea FC (4-4-2): Hilario - Boulahrouz (J. Cole 75´) - Carvalho, Terry, A. Cole - Makelele, Essien, Ballack (Ferreira 94´), Lampard - Drogba, Robben (Kalou 75´) - Manager: Jose Mourinho


Match Report:

Barca Show and Chelsea Theater without Happy End!
Didier Drogba very late goal in the 93rd minute earned Chelsea a lucky draw at Camp Nou. Deco´s superb goal put Barca early into the lead just 3 minutes after the start. But his excellent goal was topped by Frank Lampard´s lob for the 1-1 equalizer. Ronaldinho showed his magic and a fantastic move on the left before making a superb pass to Gudjohnsen in front of the goal. The former Chelsea forward had no problems to convert Ronaldinho´s classy assist to the delight of the home crowd. But Didier Drogba´s 2-2 equalizer was finally a big disappointment for Barca, who still have the qualification in their own hands by winning in Sofia and against Werder Bremen at home in Camp Nou.


Barca made a flying start as Deco fired in the opening goal after just three minutes. Deco got the ball off Chelsea defender Khalid Boulharouz in midfield, ran over the field to then cut in from the left before firing an unstoppable shot from the edge of the penalty area past Chelsea´s goalkeeper Hilário into the far corner to the delight of 90,000 supporters. The Barca fans and team could not ask for more than this incredible start. Usually it is Barca who receive an early goal but this time a fantastic Deco move caught Chelsea cold.


Cheered on by the home crowed, Barça went on for more. FC abrcelona was in total control of the game and Chelsea offered a lot of spaces. The team played their perfect passing game and controlled the opponent in midfield. In this phase Leo Messi was at his best and it was sheer delight for the Barca fans to watch him playing against Ashley Cole. The Chelsea defender did not stand a chance and was only able to stop young Messi by kicking him to the floor and if it was not Cole, it was another teammate who assisted in putting down to the ground.

In the 8th minute it should have been 2-0 up for Barca. Leo Messi and Gianluca Zambrotta combined well on the write before youngster Messi sent a low cross into the center of the penalty area to Ronaldinho. A prefect move if Ronnie would not have shot over the crossbar but into the goal.
Just minutes later, Barca could have even been already 3-0 up, when Xavi broke through the middle, ran all on his own towards the goal and fired a good shot at the Chelsea goal. But goalkeeper Hilário made a fine save and deflected the ball just next to the goal post for a corner.


In this period Chelsea tried to interrupt the fast flowing and technical attacking football by many fouls. Drogba and Thiago Motta were the center of a feud and tussle. Clearly the theater and show performance were on the Chelsea side this time and the crowd did not like it at all. The temperature rose in Camp Nou and a boiling atmosphere developed. In this period Chelsea played anti football and only tried to interrupt the flowing Barca moves through fouls. Barça looked slightly disconcerted by the consistent breaks and Chelsea took advantage of this situation. The first chance, when when a Michael Ballack shot went just over in the 17th minute. A short time later Valdes came twice to the rescue when Michael Essien´s header was tipped over by the keeper before striker Arjen Robben´s shot from the edge of the penalty area was saved.


The second half started like the first ended. Interruptions, fouls and permanent discussions with the referee by a battling Chelsea side. Visibly the Barca team got more annoyed from minute to minute by being prevented from playing their attractive football and put on a good show for the supporters. again it was Chelsea who took advantage and produced the most dangerous threats in this period. Robben headed Essien's cross to the right low corner, but once again Barca goalkeeper Valdés saved superbly. But 7 minutes after the break Lampard scored an amazing goal. with his back to the goal, he turned near the goal line and lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Valdes into the net off the far post. An amazing goal and if I would not have seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed that "Fat Franky" is able to show us such a great stunt. But I must admit, it looked like he did it on purpose. Lucky, but excellent goal to level 1-1.


Barca manager Frank Rijkaard took action after 5 mintes to replace Motta for the more creative with Brazilian midfielder Edmílson. Edmilson´s first touch was a precise, long pass to Ronaldinho. The "Gaucho" controlled the ball with his magic touches on the left side line before rounding Boulharouz and leaving the Chelsea defender astonished on the sideline. "Dinho" ran into the penalty area and before intercepted by two defenders, the Brazilian magician passed the ball with the outside of his right foot to Gudjohnsen who slided the ball home and Barca back into the lead with a bit more than half an hour more to play.


There were few signs that the Barca would give their lead away. Yes, Chelsea had created some chances on their own but it was only one team that played football and was in control of the game. Messi, Deco, Giuly and Ronaldinho all hard their chances make it 3-1. Brca wanted more. The team did not want to just sit back and defend their lead. An effort that unluckily fired back in the 93rd minute when Chelsea equalised through Didier Drogba. Essien lifted the ball into the penalty area where John Terry headed to Drogba who chested past abrca defender Rafa Márquez to finish past Victor Valdes. The Barca supporters were gutted and could not believe the final result. The final whistle from a below average performing Italian referee Stefano Farina came nearly 2 minutes to early which caused some unrest on the pitch after the match.


My Comment:

Clearly, this is a disappointment to all Barca fans. The first 20 minutes of the first half were a real delight to any Barca fan and I thought, barca would leave the match as clear winners. Didier Drogba´s equalizer in the 93rd minute was a real blow to football. It was not the goal itself but the way how Chelsea got away with a point. Consistent diving (especially Essien and Drogba), fouls, interruptions, dives for penalties (Lampard and Makele) and consistently discussing with the referee. This all leaves a very sour taste and therefore in the name of football, Barca should have won.
I believe John Terry run more over the pitch to talk and discuss with the referee than he did to defend his own goal. I also disliked the "treatment" that young Messi received. He run around the Chelsea defenders, played Cat & Mouse with "Cashley" Cole", only to be brought down after a few yards. I can now understand the kid, why claims for Chelsea defenders to calm down a bit.

On chances, Chelsea was even and may deserve a draw, but 31 fouls (15 for Barca) and 6 yellow cards (which should have been a lot more) speak a clear language.
The home team with its technical play and attacking style lost two points, Chelsea´s anti football gained one in the very last minute. This is not good for Football!


We have to get quickly over this disappointment. In fact, the situation has not changed much. Barca has got the qualification in their own hands, but are not allowed to slip again. The team have to win in Sofia and at home to Werder Bremen. Depending on results, we can even lose or draw one match. Definetely a win against Werder Bremen will change everything.


I am positive and hope we see Chelsea again soon. This would mean, we qualified. Then, it would be a different story but for sure a very exciting one. I am sure, the story will go on and I can not wait for Chapter 4: Barca v Chelsea