Can Chelsea Stop Barcelona? Champions League Tactics

Key points

• Barcelona will most likely line up in a 4-4-2, with Busquets screening the centre backs, Suarez pressing through the centre and Messi dropping between the lines. 0:36
• Chelsea's best route is a fast, vertical counter: wing backs Hazard and Morata attack Barcelona's back four to create at least equal numbers. 3:47
• Barcelona's late runners, Messi and Paulinho, are the main threat, so Chelsea's three centre backs will need midfield help to counter them. 3:12
• Man-marking Messi with one midfielder would leave Hazard and Morata with too much work up front and would also cost Chelsea a two-against-two midfield battle. 3:31
• History adds weight: Chelsea beat Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate in 2012 after losing out to Iniesta's 93rd-minute goal in 2009, and in the last three knockout meetings the winner went on to win the Champions League. 0:06

Notes on the board

• Barcelona 4-4-2 graphic — A blue panel shows 4-4-2 above a dashed line and 4-3-3 (occasional) below it.
• Dotted pass arrow on pitch — A dashed arrow runs from the top-left box area toward the touchline, marking a channelled pass away from the centre.
• Red-line pressing diagram — A red line and arrow cut across the Barcelona player's path, showing the direction of Chelsea's press.

Questions to check yourself