Fueled by an incredible brace from Lionel Messi, Barcelona stormed into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a commanding 3-0 win over Chelsea at the iconic Camp Nou, completing a 4-1 aggregate triumph.
Match Summary
Right from the kickoff, Lionel Messi made his mark, netting in the 3rd minute after Barcelona’s dominant start. Chelsea tried to rally after conceding but were left chasing shadows after Ousmane Dembele’s strike in the 20th minute doubled the hosts’ advantage.
Though Chelsea had moments of hope, including hitting the woodwork twice and a penalty appeal, Barcelona put the game beyond doubt in the 63rd minute with Messi’s second goal. Despite their efforts, Chelsea’s defence faltered at crucial moments under Ernesto Valverde’s tactical setup.
- Messi (3′) shows his class early, putting Barcelona ahead
- Dembele (20′) fires a stunning goal to double the lead
- Alonso (45+1′) rattles the post, giving Chelsea hope
- Alonso (49′) penalty claim denied, referee stands firm
- Messi (63′) seals the deal with a brilliant second goal
- Rudiger (90′) strikes the crossbar in a late Chelsea effort
Full Report
Barcelona wasted no time and Messi’s quick-fire opener in the third minute sent a clear message to Chelsea. Luis Suarez was the creative spark, assisting Messi after a frantic scramble in the box, and the Argentine slotted the ball past Thibaut Courtois from a tricky angle.
The Blues responded energetically, striving to find an equaliser, but were caught cold again when Messi dazzled through the defence and assisted Dembele’s exquisite strike into the top corner.
Marcos Alonso emerged as Chelsea’s key threat throughout, forcing a sharp save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen and narrowly missing the target with a free-kick striking the post during stoppage time of the first half.
An intense moment came early in the second half when Alonso went down in the box requesting a penalty following a challenge by Gerard Pique. However, referee Damir Skomina stood by his decision, denying Chelsea a vital spot-kick.
Barcelona, while momentarily subdued, consistently threatened through Luis Suarez’s sharp movement. Exploiting Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities, Suarez assisted Messi to slot the ball through Courtois’s legs, effectively securing victory in the 63rd minute.
Despite a tough day for Courtois, he showed his resilience with a brilliant save from Paulinho’s ferocious header in the 85th minute. Chelsea’s hope flickered briefly when Antonio Rudiger’s header clanged off the crossbar, denying them a dramatic consolation goal late on.
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