Chelsea vs Barcelona preview: The Blues and Blaugrana lock horns at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea return to European action on Tuesday night as they welcome Barcelona to Stamford Bridge in a mouthwatering Champions League clash.

The Blues secured a 2-0 win against Burnley on Saturday, recording their fifth straight victory in all competitions. Enzo Maresca’s men were held to a 2-2 draw with Azerbaijani side Qarabag in their last Champions League outing.

Catalan giants smashed Athletic Bilbao 4-0 on their return to Camp Nou. Barcelona were also held to a 3-3 draw in Club Brugge in their last CL game.

Match preview

Chelsea have lost just one of the last nine UCL meetings with their illustrious Spanish counterparts (W2, D6), but that did come in the last meeting in March 2018, while Barcelona are winless across their last four trips to Stamford Bridge (D2, L2).

Barcelona have the historical edge in recent encounters, having beaten Chelsea 3-0 in their last Champions League meeting, with the previous clash ending 1-1 at Stamford Bridge.

The Catalan giants have only won away to Chelsea once in their previous eight attempts in Europe, losing five times. The victory in question was a 2-1 win in February 2006 in this competition, with a John Terry own goal and a strike from Samuel Eto’o helping the visitors come from behind.

Blaugrana have only lost two of their previous nine away games against English sides in the Champions League, winning six. Those defeats came against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in November 2016 (3-1) and Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool in May 2019 (4-0).

English sides have won nine of their last 10 games against Spanish clubs in the Champions League, with Barcelona’s 2-1 victory at Newcastle United in September the exception.

Team news

Chelsea

Reece James survived an injury scare against Burnley after he was substituted at half-time, but Chelsea’s captain is expected to be fit for selection.

Long-term absentees Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, and Romeo Lavia are sidelined for this fixture.

Barcelona

Summer signing Marcus Rashford missed the Catalan’s rampant 4-0 win against Athletic Bilbao due to illness, and he remains a doubt.

The visitors will be without captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Pedri and Gavi for the trip to London.

Predicted line-ups

Chelsea: Robert Sánchez, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, Moisés Caicedo, Estêvão, Alejandro Garnacho, João Pedro, Pedro Neto.

Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Koundé, Ronald Araujo, Eric García, Alejandro Balde, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Casadó, Fermín López, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Ferran Torres.