Fc barcelona suffered a 3-0 defeat to a strong chelsea at stamford bridge, sealed by araujo's expulsion and defensive errors. The blaugrana side showed ineffectiveness and could not mount a comeback. This loss complicates their champions league position.
Fc barcelona condemned itself at stamford bridge in a key champions league match. From the start, the blaugrana missed clear chances, like ferran torres' sitter against robert sánchez in the fifth minute. Imprecise and far from the rival area, they resorted to a sterile defense, adverse in london since 2006.
Chelsea, led by enzo maresca, imposed superiority with a detailed plan. He bet on estevao and garnacho as wingers and pedro neto as false nine, replacing delap. This offensive variant, along with tactical interventions, showed the guardiolist coach's preparation.
The first goal came from a corner: cucurella's cross caused a tangle between koundé and ferran, with the frenchman putting the ball into his own net (1-0). Barcelona split in midfield, losing balls under english pressure. In the 44th minute, araujo, booked for protesting, saw red for a reckless tackle, repeating his european expulsions.
With numerical inferiority, chelsea dominated. Lamine yamal was denied by cucurella and substituted, overshadowed by estevao, scorer of the 2-0 stunner against joan garcía. The third came during substitutions, with four chelsea goals disallowed. De jong failed to hold the ball, and eric garcía, improvised in midfield, showed limitations.
Hansi flick lined up de jong and araujo returning, with eric garcía as holding midfielder ahead of olmo and casadó, aiming to toughen up against the rival's physical strength. However, without effective high press or pedri, barcelona was submissive. Now, with three champions league games left and the alavés visit in la liga, the team must reflect on its apathy in europe.