Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona: Lionel Messi breaks duck against Blues
The Argentine netted and earned Barca a draw on the road in the UCL last 16 first leg
All things come to an end, eventually. 730 minutes later, Lionel Messi finally scored against Chelsea.
Chelsea
1 ________________ 1
FC Barcelona
LINE UP
Chelsea
Courtois, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen; Marcos Alonso, Kante, Cesc (Drinkwater, 83), Moses, Pedro (morata (82), Hazard y Willian
FC Barcelona
Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta (André 93), Paulinho (Aleix Vidal 63'), Suárez y Messi.
Goles
1-0, Willian min 62. 1-1, Leo Messi min 75.
Árbitro
El colegiado turco Cüneyt Çakir. Amonesto con amarilla a Rakitic, Busquets y Suárez. Del Chelsea a Rüdiger y Willian.
Incidencias
Partido disputado en Stamford Bridge (Londres) correspondiente a la ida de los octavos de final de la Champions League
This was his ninth game against the Blues and he had not yet found the net, but he left Thibaut Courtois with no chance when Andres Iniesta teed him up in the 75th minute.
Messi’s strike could prove to be a vital away goal, with the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg at Camp Nou on March 14.
That was largely down to Willian, who performed superbly, hitting the post twice and eventually sending Chelsea ahead with a drilled effort from the edge of the area.
Barcelona dominated possession in the first half but Chelsea were the more dangerous side.
Eden Hazard hammered an effort fractionally off target and Willian left Ter Stegen frozen with a strike that curled onto the keeper’s post.
Before the break Willian was at it again, rocketing in a strike which struck the near post.
Eventually Willian scored, but then eventually Messi did too, as Barcelona burst into life when Andreas Christensen’s poor pass allowed Iniesta to beat Cesar Azpilicueta to the ball and square for the Argentine.
It was a moment of fortune which undid Antonio Conte’s superbly drilled back-line.
And a moment on which this tie could hinge.