Iniesta lights blue touch paper ahead of semi-final second leg
Published:Prior to the Champions League semi-final second leg at the Nou Camp tonight, Andres Iniesta may have fired up Chelsea by claiming the Blues rode their luck in their first leg victory.
Chelsea will carry a 1-0 advantage to Spain, and that win was achieved in a match where the hosts had just one shot on target in the full 90 minutes.
Visiting Barcelona also enjoyed more than 70 per cent possession within the game, and Iniesta, who scored the decisive goal the last time these sides met in a Champions League semi, spoke to the Daily Mirror in the aftermath of the game.
“We were the superior team at Stamford Bridge. I don’t think the luck will be with Chelsea in the second leg.
“I think if you judge the game on its merits, then we deserve to reach the final in Munich.”
Iniesta’s comments are sure to stir up visiting Chelsea, who have managed to avoid defeat on their past three visits to the Nou Camp, and know that doing the same tonight would see them claim a Champions League final spot.
They will face as tough a task as they ever have done with this year’s trip however, opposing a Lionel Messi at the peak of his game, but one who has failed to score in seven outings against the Blues.
A return in the defensive department for Barca could prove Chelsea’s biggest problem however, as Gerard Pique looks primed to return after missing the Stamford Bridge clash.
Didier Drogba caused all sorts of problems in that first leg, but with the return of the Catalans’ natural central defensive partnership, he may struggle to have such an impact here.
It looks as though it will be as you were for either side from the first leg apart from Pique though, and should Barcelona dominate in the manner that Iniesta described, they look good things at 2/7 to win in 90 minutes.
