Guus Hiddink’s rearguard action and the occasional roughhouse tactics of his players meant they had to live on their nerves at times but eventually nullified the threat of the Catalans.
And with Petr Cech returning to his form of old, it gives Chelsea every chance of progressing to the Champions League final in Rome.
Other than a glorious opening handed to Didier Drogba by a Daniel Alves slip just before half time, the Blues didn’t create a chance throughout the entire 90 minutes.
No sooner was possession won by Hiddink’s side than it was given back to Barca to weave their intricate passing in wave after wave of attack.
But after Cech had flapped at two routine crosses in the first five minutes, he went on to have an inspired night.
In front of him, skipper John Terry was assured and the resurgent Alex coped admirably with the pace and trickery of Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry.
With Ashley Cole suspended, Jose Bosingwa deputised at left-back in an attempt to shackle Lionel Messi - and for the most part he did an exceptional job.
But the 21-year-old Argentine is simply irrepressible and was still at the heart of many of Barca’s thrusts.
Xavi hit a powerful drive wide from the edge of the box just before the half hour mark and, after Michael Ballack was cautioned, Henry twice cut in from the left to hit low drives that Cech kept out at his near post.
An ongoing feud between Alves, Drogba and Florent Malouda ensued as tempers frayed and Yaya Toure saw yellow for whinging about a foul on Andres Iniesta.
On 38 minutes came the chance of the game for Drogba.
A shocking back pass by Alves was seized upon by the burly frontman, Valdes beat out his first effort and when the Ivorian tried to lift the rebound over him, the Barca stopper threw out two big hands to claw the ball away.
The second-half didn’t get going for 10 minutes with a trio of Barca players left writhing in agony.
First Henry was pole axed after a clash of heads with Alex, then Rafael Marquez had to be stretchered off and replaced by Carles Puyol.
Finally, Alves was sent sprawling after the faintest of touches by Drogba
Messi volleyed high from a corner on the hour, Alves powered in a drive that Cech blocked and then Eto’o ran from the halfway line, turned Alex, only for the indomitable stopper to again thwart him from close in.
Ballack escaped a second yellow for what looked a blatant body check on Iniesta with five minutes left.
Eto’o was replaced by Bojan Krkic with 10 minutes remaining as Pep Guardiola rolled the dice.
And the teenager missed the home side’s best chance, turning a close range header over from an Alves cross.
Fellow sub Alexander Hleb could also have scored in the dying seconds but Cech, who else, was again on hand to save. - The Sun
And with Petr Cech returning to his form of old, it gives Chelsea every chance of progressing to the Champions League final in Rome.
Other than a glorious opening handed to Didier Drogba by a Daniel Alves slip just before half time, the Blues didn’t create a chance throughout the entire 90 minutes.
No sooner was possession won by Hiddink’s side than it was given back to Barca to weave their intricate passing in wave after wave of attack.
But after Cech had flapped at two routine crosses in the first five minutes, he went on to have an inspired night.
In front of him, skipper John Terry was assured and the resurgent Alex coped admirably with the pace and trickery of Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry.
With Ashley Cole suspended, Jose Bosingwa deputised at left-back in an attempt to shackle Lionel Messi - and for the most part he did an exceptional job.
But the 21-year-old Argentine is simply irrepressible and was still at the heart of many of Barca’s thrusts.
Xavi hit a powerful drive wide from the edge of the box just before the half hour mark and, after Michael Ballack was cautioned, Henry twice cut in from the left to hit low drives that Cech kept out at his near post.
An ongoing feud between Alves, Drogba and Florent Malouda ensued as tempers frayed and Yaya Toure saw yellow for whinging about a foul on Andres Iniesta.
On 38 minutes came the chance of the game for Drogba.
A shocking back pass by Alves was seized upon by the burly frontman, Valdes beat out his first effort and when the Ivorian tried to lift the rebound over him, the Barca stopper threw out two big hands to claw the ball away.
The second-half didn’t get going for 10 minutes with a trio of Barca players left writhing in agony.
First Henry was pole axed after a clash of heads with Alex, then Rafael Marquez had to be stretchered off and replaced by Carles Puyol.
Finally, Alves was sent sprawling after the faintest of touches by Drogba
Messi volleyed high from a corner on the hour, Alves powered in a drive that Cech blocked and then Eto’o ran from the halfway line, turned Alex, only for the indomitable stopper to again thwart him from close in.
Ballack escaped a second yellow for what looked a blatant body check on Iniesta with five minutes left.
Eto’o was replaced by Bojan Krkic with 10 minutes remaining as Pep Guardiola rolled the dice.
And the teenager missed the home side’s best chance, turning a close range header over from an Alves cross.
Fellow sub Alexander Hleb could also have scored in the dying seconds but Cech, who else, was again on hand to save. - The Sun
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