From “Can Chelsea Stop Barcelona? | Champions League Tactics” by Tifo Football by The Athletic
Can Chelsea Stop Barcelona? Champions League Tactics
Two excellent teams, one tactical puzzle, a bold prediction.
Key points
- Chelsea's best chance is to counter quickly and vertically, bypassing Barcelona's press, by pushing their wing backs, Hazard and Morata forward to create at least equal numbers in attack. 3:47
- Barcelona will probably line up in a 4-4-2, with Busquets dropping between the centre backs, Iniesta and Rakitic moving inside, and Suarez pressing Chelsea's centre backs to set the tempo. 0:36
- Chelsea can switch between a narrower front three and a flatter 3-5-2, where Fabregas supports Hazard from deep and Morata's physicality helps Hazard find space. 1:48
- Marking Messi man-for-man with one central midfielder would leave Hazard and Morata with too much work, so Chelsea must win the two-on-two midfield battle instead. 3:31
- The head-to-head history is close: Barcelona won in 2009 with Iniesta's 93rd-minute goal, Chelsea won 3-2 on aggregate in 2012, and the winner of the last three knockout meetings went on to win the Champions League. 0:06
Turning points
- Recent history between the sides — Chelsea lost to Barcelona on away goals in 2009 and beat them 3-2 on aggregate in 2012, and the winner of the last three knockout meetings went on to lift the trophy. 0:00
- Iniesta's 93rd-minute strike sends Barcelona through on away goals 0:06
- Chelsea beat Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate 0:06
- Barcelona's flexible 4-4-2 — Valverde is expected to use a 4-4-2 with Busquets screening, full backs pushing on, and Messi and Suarez as the attacking pair. 0:31
- Barcelona's aggressive press — Suarez sets the pressing tempo, pushing through the centre to force Chelsea's centre backs to play into one guarded area. 1:13
- Chelsea's 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 shapes — Chelsea vary last season's 3-4-3 with Alonso and Moses as wing backs, and Hazard supported by Fabregas and Morata in a flatter 3-5-2; Kante and Drinkwater provide movement and screening. 1:41
- Key battles and threats — Iniesta and Alba threaten Chelsea's left, Paulinho and Messi make late runs from deep, and Chelsea must stop Messi without breaking their own shape. 2:31
- Chelsea's counter-attack plan — Chelsea's best route is to counter quickly and vertically, bypassing the press with wing backs, Hazard and Morata while Kante and Drinkwater occupy Busquets. 3:21
Shapes worth a closer look
- Pressing triangle — Red-circled Barcelona and Chelsea players show the central pressure zone on the pitch diagram.
- Counter arrow — Red arrows show a Chelsea counter route toward the Barcelona box.
Questions to check yourself
Which formation does the video expect Barcelona to use?
4-4-2 — The video says Valverde has favoured a 4-4-2 and that it seems likely Barcelona will line up this way. 0:31
What is Chelsea's suggested best route to beat the press?
Counter quickly and vertically — The video states Chelsea's best chance is to counter quickly and vertically, bypassing Barcelona's press. 3:47
Who is expected to lead Barcelona's pressing tempo?
Suarez — Suarez is said to set the tempo of the press by working through the centre. 1:13