Teenage sensation Estevao upstages Yamal as Chelsea humiliate 10-man Barcelona

Chelsea vs Barcelona is a Champions League fixture that brings back memories of laundry baskets, questionable officiating, bad blood and some absorbing football, and tonight the clubs meet for the first time in seven years.

They contested two semi-finals in 2009 and 2012, winning one apiece. The first was settled by Andrés Iniesta’s late away goal after Chelsea were denied not one, not two, but three plausible penalty shouts, culminating in Didier Drogba screaming “disgrace” down a television camera at full-time.

Chelsea exacted their own form of larcenous revenge three years later, when they soaked up relentless Barcelona pressure home and away (with 10 men in the Nou Camp after John Terry’s red card) in a triumph against the odds which was sealed by Fernando Torres’ runaway goal.

Probably the best two-legged tie though, came at the last-16 stage in 2005 when José Mourinho used a laundry basket to defy a stadium on the night Chelsea sliced through Barcelona in a blistering opening spell at Stamford Bridge. Three goals in the opening 19 minutes put Chelsea 4-2 up on aggregate, and despite Ronaldinho scoring a brilliant toe poke, the London club progressed 5-4.

Winning the Champions League was an obsession for Chelsea in the Roman Abramovich years, and they finally did so in 2012 with one of their weaker teams of that era. Expectations are not quite so high for Enzo Maresca and his players, who have work to do to secure a top-eight finish after the draw with Qarabag.

On seven points from four games, Chelsea are level with Barcelona. Hansi Flick’s team are capable of thrilling attacking football with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and now Marcus Rashford to the fore, but clean sheets have been scarce amid several diabolical defensive showings. Based on expected goals allowed, Barcelona have La Liga’s ninth-best defence and Chelsea pacy wide players should be relishing the space offered behind their high line.

Full team news on the way shortly.