Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Barcelona to face Chelsea in Champions League semi

Barcelona faces Chelsea in the first leg of the clubs' UEFA Champions-League semi-final on Tuesday.






Barcelona'sXaviHernandezlistensduringanewsconferenceatNouCampinBarcelonaApril27,2009.BarcelonawillplayChelseaintheirChampionsLeaguesemifinalfirst-legsoccermatchonTuesdayREUTERS/GustauNacarino(SPAINSPORTSOCCER)


Barcelona'sXaviHernandezlistensduringanewsconferenceat
NouCampinBarcelonaApril27,2009.BarcelonawillplayChelsea
intheirChampionsLeaguesemifinalfirst-legsoccermatchon
TuesdayREUTERS/GustauNacarino(SPAINSPORTSOCCER)


Pep Guardiola hopes to guide Barca to its second European Cup triumph in three years, while Chelsea aims to go one better than last year when they finished runners-up to Manchester United after a dramatic penalty shoot-out.


Barcelona's reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for a record-equaling sixth time, and for the second year in a row. But Manchester United eliminated Barca in last season's semi-final round, and Liverpool did the same the year before. For coach Pep Guardiola, the match against Chelsea at the Camp Nou is likely to define Barcelona's season.


Pep Guardiola, Barcelona coach, said, "I must say I was very impressed watching some of their matches... We need to achieve great control of the game. They are very, very powerful and strong with the ability to cover long distances. They are a team with great experience. They've been playing together for many years and are very used to this type of game."

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