WATCH: Chelsea finally go ahead at third attempt after two disallowed goals in first half against Barcelona
Chelsea had two early goals disallowed in the first half against Barcelona before finally taking the lead through a Jules Kounde own goal.
Having already seen two Enzo Fernandez goals rightly chalked off, Chelsea finally went in front when Marc Cucurella’s cross was inadvertantly bundled in by Barca defender Kounde.
Despite a strong start against the Catalan giants, the Blues’ frustration was growing when they were twice denied the chance to go ahead, but three minutes after Enzo’s header was ruled out for the second time, a goal was finally allowed to stands.
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Chelsea vs Barcelona: Blues denied twice and Torres misses huge chance
Enzo sent Stamford Bridge into raptures after only three minutes when he slammed the ball home after defender Wesley Fofana had found him inside the box in what looked like the perfect start against the Catalan giants.
But those celebrations were stopped when referee Slavko Vincic gestured to indicate that he spotted a handball by Fofana when he brought the ball down before getting to the byline and finding Enzo, a decision which was confirmed by VAR.
The defender controlled the ball with his chest before it ricocheted off his upper arm, which took him past the Barca defender.
After thinking they had gone ahead, Chelsea were inches away from going behind moments later when Ferran Torres found himself with acres of space inside the box with only Robert Sanchez to beat.
But rather than find the net, Barcelona’s top scorer this season uncharacteristically put the ball wide with Sanchez looking well beaten.
Chelsea’s positive start continued as they continually got the better of Barca’s high line and they were once again denied the chance to go ahead when Enzo thought he had scored again on 24 minutes.
A free-kick on the left-hand side was swung in and eventually headed in by the Argentine, but Trevoh Chalobah was offside when he made a slight touch on its way to goal.
They were not to be denied though as they eventually did find the net when Cucurella avoided the offside flag before his cross found the way of Kounde, who couldn’t get his feet sorted in time as the ball hit off both his feet and trickled over the line.
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer once again as he continues to nurse the toe injury he sustained in an accident at home.
Estevao is once again the poster boy for the Blues, as he heads up against Lamine Yamal in the battle of a generation.
Moises Caicedo is back in the team, with Reece James as always, entrusted to lead Chelsea out under the lights.
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella, James, Caicedo, Estevao, Enzo, Garnacho, Neto
BARCELONA TEAM NEWS
Midfield lynchpin Pedri is definitely out but Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Balde and Frenkie de Jong return to the squad.
Rashford missed the Athletic game due to a heavy cold, Balde received a blow to the head in the same game while De Jong was suspended.
While the on loan Manchester United man is back involved, he is only fit enough for the bench against his old Premier League foes.
Barcelona: Garcia, Balde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Kounde, E. Garcia, De Jong, Lopez, Torres, Lewandowski, Yamal
How to watch Chelsea v Barcelona: TV and online streams
Chelsea versus Barcelona kicks off tonight at 8pm UK time. You can watch it in the UK on Amazon Prime and stream it on the Amazon Prime Video app.
It is available via local Champions League rights holders in other countries, including the United States.
Stats for Chelsea v Barcelona
- Chelsea have only lost one of their last nine meetings with Barcelona in the Champions League
- Since 2013-14, Barcelona have only lost two of their nine away games against English sides in the Champions League (W6 D1)
- English teams have won nine of their last 10 games against Spanish sides in the Champions League (L1), with the only exception being Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Newcastle in September