How can Chelsea beat Barcelona in the Champions League?
By Ben Smith
BBC Sport
The question of how to beat Barcelona is one few have answered with much success in recent years.
A second Champions League final is the prize for Chelsea if they come up with the solution. A referee, a penalty shoot-out and a "ghost" goal have left them cursing the fates in their attempts to win the trophy coveted above all others by owner Roman Abramovich.
But to beat Barca they must have the hardest workers and the bravest defenders.
The great irony for Chelsea is that Jose Mourinho, their former manager whose shadow still looms large over Stamford Bridge, is one of only a handful to get the better of Barcelona, notably with Inter Milan in 2009.
The Catalans claimed a "tear had rolled down the face of the game" that night, having completed 548 passes to Inter's 67. Chelsea must not, however, be afraid of embracing the Special One's blueprint if they are to prevail.
The five-second rule: when to press and when to drop off
Barcelona are devastating in attack but their ability to win the ball back swiftly is vital to their success. Albert Capellas, formerly of Barca's famed La Masia academy told me of the "five-second rule", where the team press their opponents immediately on losing possession but then drop deep if they fail to regain it within five seconds.
Once Barca drop back, they wait for precise triggers to press again. If a pass bounces off a foot, or an attacker needs to look down at the ball - as soon as their opponents' options are limited, Barca pounce again.
Chelsea must therefore prioritise simply holding the ball when they win it and breaking Barca's rhythm.
Equally, they must not be afraid to fight fire with fire and deny Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique and others the chance to take the ball into midfield and on to the "passing carousel", as Sir Alex Ferguson describes it. The goalkeeper and the back four rarely punt the ball long, and if Chelsea can force hurried clearances their greater physicality gives them a chance to regain possession.
Focus, concentrate, communicate - and never lose sight of Messi
Some teams defend with position, Barcelona defend with possession. Last season they averaged 72% possession in La Liga, and they are close to that figure again this time. But it is crucial Chelsea concentrate as hard when they have the ball as when they don't.
If Lionel Messi, as he often does, robs a defender high up the field he will be through on goal in a flash. Chelsea must always know where he is.
The question of how you mark him must also be resolved. The Argentine plays between the lines, dropping into the space between midfield and attack. If you man-mark him, he draws his marker away, allowing Xavi, Pedro and Andres Iniesta more time and space.
If a central defender steps out to track Messi, others exploit the space. Chelsea must mark him zonally, passing him on to a team-mate when he leaves their zone. This requires great communication and concentration.
Be strong, be direct
Teams who have caused Barcelona problems have been fast and physical. Chelsea will need willing runners and direct passing if they are to turn Pique and Javier Mascherano.
If Didier Drogba or Fernando Torres can offer runs in behind the Barcelona defence and Frank Lampard can ping passes over the top, Barcelona's rearguard is likely to edge slowly back towards its own goal. This will make them a less compact team and the quick short-passing game they thrive on will be more difficult to play.
Stop Busquets
Sergio Busquets protects and serves. He is the vital, central cog, the steel to Messi's silk. Only Xavi completed more passes per match in La Liga last season; only Pique regained possession more often.
Busquets starts many of the moves that end with Barca putting the ball in the net. Raul Meireles is likely to start just behind Chelsea's front man, but his main responsibility must be to deny Busquets time to lift his head and feed Barca's most potent attacking threats.
Start with a bang and target set-pieces
Occasionally Barca take time to warm to their task. Of the 37 goals they have conceded this season, 18 have come in the first 15 minutes of either half. Much of this has to do with the rhythm of their famed tiki-taka possession game - it takes time for the carousel to gather momentum.
An early goal would breathe life into Chelsea's hopes and lift the players and fans. Another area where Chelsea will have an edge is set-pieces; Barcelona are only likely to have two players over six feet in their side.
Pat Nevin
Football analyst
It's easy to say but almost impossible to do. Chelsea have to defend for their lives, close down all the space, then when they get half a chance lump it into the box. Not very sophisticated, not very clever but it may be their best opportunity.
Chelsea have to try to play their power against Barca. In order to do that you need to be physically strong, but you also need to have the ball and you don't get a hell of a lot of it when Barca are playing at their best.
The best attempt has been Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in losing last year's Champions League semi-final 3-1 on aggregate. He played a 4-3-2-1 system and the three just sat in front of the centre-backs where Barcelona like to play, in those little holes. If you stop Xavi, Messi and Iniesta playing in that area you've got a chance.
drugima i mlađima...to je ta neminovnost u fudbalu.
), Keita je isto upitan a vec ima nekoliko dobrih ponuda za njegove godine, pitanje je šta ce biti sa Afellayem - sve se cesce pominje njegova prodaja...kao i samog Ville koji vec ima 30 godina i koji ne nacet ozljedama.
ja sam rekla nek' ove sezone ne osvoje nista, meni mjera, jer sam tri godine uzivala k'o sto nisam odavno, no, sad kad su tako blizu, nek' osvoje "makar" LP! 
valja sutra gleat mrsku barsu,kako razvaljiva u po londona