In tonight's Champions League semifinal part deux at Stamford Bridge, underdogs Chelsea will probably want to stick to the game plan that got them a 1-0 lead in the first leg...
Just kidding.
The sun spots seem to have cleared from my brain, and I fully realize this tie is actually scoreless as I type this - but the point I had started will be continued. Expect the Blues to play physical, pick their spots to get numbers forward, slow down the Catalans through the middle and get as much help defense to Lionel Messi as possible.
Some might expect Guus Hiddink to open the throttle a bit at home, but it's more his style to pick a time segment to go on the offensive. I've had plenty of occasion to study the Chelsea caretaker. He's most likely to try to control tempo through possession to shorten the first half and briefly hit the gas pedal either just before or just out of intermission.
A few times, he has opened up to surprise a big foe, but I doubt this is the night for that stratagem. Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola doesn't need to push his men forward; he starts the music and lets them dance.
However, the away boss may have some adjustments to make if Hiddink repeats the 4-4-2 Anelka/Drogba tandem set that worked so well on the weekend. Rafa Marquez and Carlos Puyol are unavailable, so Martín Cáceres and Gerard Pique are on the spot.
I wouldn't be too worried about the latter, but the former will soon get the Johan Djourou treatment - the 22-year old Uruguay international has just 14 appearances on the season and none against a Champions League-caliber opponent since his cameo in a March 1st loss to Atlético Madrid.
So what's my call? As would have been the case with Arsenal last night, getting the game to halftime scoreless tilts the edge to Chelsea. However, I'm not counting on such a thing happening.
The Blues can only withstand Barça advances for so long and Guardiola will be out to score first. I think they will and I think the home side will need to open up at some point in the second half.
Chelsea's fighting mentality (combined with Barcelona's weakened backline) could get them back to level or even to a lead, but the lack of an away goal will end up hurting. I say the Spaniards set up the dream final with a 2-2 draw.
Some prep reading:
- UEFA's match notes
- Beauty v. Beast?
- Guus Hiddink, Master Thief
- Messi takes reader questions
- Mourinho says tonight's winner will beat ManU
To wrap it up, we let the golden Guus tap his watch to remind Chelsea veterans to seize the day...
- Greg Seltzer
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