Chelsea - Barcelona. Big rivalry?

[Namika 922]

Xavi: "Chelsea elimination hurt because it was unjust, we had so many chances. Seemed Chelsea was destined to win this CL. That's football."

[not a big fan 9]

Whatever Uefalona fans say, Chelsea has screwed them up the most in the Champions League over the last 10 years, 4 times if my memory serves. The couple of times they got past us they could only do so thanks to dubious officiating decisions. I used to have a fairly favourable view of them when Hagi and Stoichkov were still playing for them but now I really hate them, mostly b/c of the hordes of fanbois who have been going from forum to forum preaching the superiority of their attacking/tiki-taka football and the uberomnipotence of Pep while disdaining defensive football.

[Jase 43,479]

Yes, of course we are rivals. It's impossible to overlook the controversial clashes we've had in the last decade or so. This is a game which captivates the whole world. I feel that with every round we meet, our rivalry grows stronger and gets more acknowledged in world football. It is also considered as the ultimate showdown between total attack and total defence, kinda like a means of measurement to which philosophy prevails.

Agree and this rivalry could or perhaps have already eclipsed the one we had against Liverpool.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I remember Juve-Bayern rivalry few years ago.

There is rivalry between Chelsea and Barca, but only because we played against each other so many times in past 10 yrs.

But its not considered rivalry for winning CL. Chelsea have (had) much less chances to win CL again than Barca.

Unless Chelsea will now explode with Hulk and Hazard.

[Fernando 6,464]

If Mourinho stays at Madrid for a decade, I could easily see a Madrid - Chelsea rivalry coming in.

But on the topic, yeah it seems to me like it is. They don't like playing against us, and neither do we.

Has been some epic matches over the past decade.

And now that we are getting better players, Chelsea this time might not be like the Chelsea of this year but more of a Chelsea of years back, where it was a close game between both teams.

Once that happens, then I will say for most people it will consider a true classic.

[zolayes 14,489]

Xavi: "Chelsea elimination hurt because it was unjust, we had so many chances. Seemed Chelsea was destined to win this CL. That's football."

forgetting all the favours granted them in the past by officials ....

[Fhaarkas 39]

I love the Barcelonas of yore. Can't stand their current iteration.

And yes, that first sentence. That says it all.

[Leif 6,006]

As much as I hate many of the current Barcelona team and what they've done to us a few times over the years, It is a bit of an honour to be a great rival of theirs considering they're apparently the 'poster boys of football' etc.

Thinking of it, the only players I like in that team are Valdes (Only because he's a spitting image of my cousin lol), Puyol and Xavi.

[Fhaarkas 39]

To be fair, I used to love admire them. Until Mou and us showed them how it's really done that is.

[Superblue 6,370]

Whether there fans do or not, the board and players certainly do.

There players no doubt have a psychological problem facing us, especially messi.

And i read somewhere that a couple of years ago the board were doubting the barca philosophy because it didnt work up against us. They were looking to add more steel and size to the team but, and rightfully so, stuck with their principles. To cause that amount of doubt though is a real honour.

[Ollie 4,400]

Chelsea vs Barcelona is unquestionably one of the biggest rivalries in Europe. Don't need to say much more.

[warnie_666 1,081]

Chelsea vs Barcelona is bigger than anything.

Yes there was a time when Man Utd vs Real Madrid was big cus of the stature of the two clubs.

But the amount of controversy and theatrics that goes on in the Chelsea vs Barcelona game cannot be matched.

It all started with Mourinho triggering it. I remember, Eto said he never would go to Chelsea cus of Mourinho, players hated us. They claimed that Mourinho after being banned went to the players room in a laundry Basket.

Our very own baby faced AVB almost landed a punch on Rijkaard after the Fracas at Nou Camp.

Dider sent off controversially, Del Horno sent off controversially, fast forward to 2009 Overbo stole the show and Chelsea were victims of the most farcical display of refereeing ever witnessed in competitive football. the rivalry went up several notches after that night. Specially when Barca players had the gall to come out in the media and say Football won. And that Chelsea didnt deserve cus of anti football.

Next 3 years they dont meet us and go on to become the all conquering side. 3 years later they meet us , and we show the world what it takes to beat those twats by displaying the most stellar comeback the world had ever witnessed against the best team ever to have played football in their own den.

If they are beauty, we are beast,

We are a complete opposite team to them in every sense of word. Their philosophy is play sexy football and our philosophy is play football like men, like warriors, with sheer brute force.

Fuck Them!!!

[HRiver 1,512]

Chelsea-Barcelona is a classic. Especially when we're the home team, the atmosphere is just brilliant when the two teams meet each other. Camp Nou doesn't quite make you feel that it's an European night, imo. The Bridge is a great venue for European nights.

[Term-X 7,891]

This 'rivalry' (broad term anyway), has actually been underplayed by the football world, non-chelsea fans and Barca fans. Granted the media pre & post match build up has been justly hyped up for what it is, due to the previous encounters. Barca fans (from what I've seen) like to shrug it off though, they don't want to dwell on it, or entertain the idea.

[Fhaarkas 39]

This 'rivalry' (broad term anyway), has actually been underplayed by the football world, non-chelsea fans and Barca fans. Granted the media pre & post match build up has been justly hyped up for what it is, due to the previous encounters. Barca fans (from what I've seen) like to shrug it off though, they don't want to dwell on it, or entertain the idea.

I think they are just in denial.

[Santiago. 1,500]

It is an intense rivalry when you look at the basic components that make one.

Past decade, what was it? 11 matches, Barca 4 wins, Drawn 2, Chelsea 5 wins.

The art and beauty that is the Spanish football vs the strength and the power of English football.

The fact that our own legends, di matteo, wise, zola, all have encountered barca and produced classic matches as well.

The fact that Messi has never scored a goal against us in 8 attempts, and literally taking down Barca's pathetic fan base by 15 percent.

Overall, in the past decade, think this takes the cake. You could even tell when the barca players step in at stamford bridge, they had a fear in their eye,especially messi. I think the style and way of football Chelsea have been playing the past 10 years, is too brute and frusturating for barca to cope with, and i think they all knew it before they approached the game. Just look at 2009, Lampard's slide tackle on Iniesta, i can guarantee you Iniesta had never had that done to him before. It is a totally different environment, style of football, and philosophy that is Chelsea fc, and i believe is every Spanish's bogey team.

Past decade

1. Chelsea vs Barcelona

2. Manchester United vs Bayern Munich

3. Liverpool vs AC MILAN

4. Arsenal vs Barcelona

5. Cheslea vs Liverpool

[pride of lions 59]

I still hate Barca in fact everything about them. They have the best players in the World and they still have to cheat, they have this holier than thou attitude that is vomit inducing. Total cunts, and as for Pep being a messiah, my mum could have won what he has won with them with that squad. Remember Avram Grant?

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

I'm just glad that we got our revenge. 3 years ago, after the Ovrebo match, they said 'Football' won. Well, 3 years later, 'Justice' has won.