- The Guardian,
- Wednesday April 19, 2000
Chelsea heroically lost the numbers game last night as the real Barcelona finally stood up to be counted. Gianluca Vialli's side, outclassed and largely outfought, could only watch helplessly as their 3-1 lead from the first leg disappeared before their eyes and those of the 98,000 crowd packed into a cacophonous Nou Camp.
The pride of Catalonia came into this game on the back of a dismal run of results but their pedigree remained unquestioned. Unfortunately for Chelsea its full force was unleashed just when it mattered, to steer a stylish path into an all Spanish semi-final against Valencia.
For Vialli's team to reach this far in Europe's premier club tournament is quite an achievement and something on which the Italian can build. But he knows that in the end Chelsea lack the class to succeed at this level and serious thought will be required in the summer transfer market.
"We didn't impose ourselves in the first half," he said. "We did what we didn't want to do: defend negatively. But we are proud of what we achieved in getting this far."
Barcelona's dominance of a game packed with drama contrasted starkly with their off night at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago. Had not Rivaldo missed a penalty and Ed de Goey once again conjured up a series of defiant saves, the Spanish side's margin of victory would have been embarrassing and there would have been no extra-time.
Hard as they worked, Chelsea struggled throughout to contain Barcelona's verve and early in extra-time Celestine Babayaro was sent off for ending Luis Figo's weaving run on goal with a desperate tackle from behind, conceding a penalty which Rivaldo did convert.
Although the 10 men fought gamely to the finish, this was destined not to be another night of Premiership triumph in the cauldron where Manchester United lifted the European Cup last season.
Chelsea's two-goal cushion from the first leg had disappeared by half-time and, though they regained the aggregate lead after a mistake by the Barcelona keeper Ruud Hesp, the home side's quality told in the end.
Barcelona's 3-4-3 formation emphasised their need to attack and find the early goal to settle their nerves and tighten Chelsea's. Almost on cue they forced the breakthrough on 24 minutes having dominated the game until then. Even so the goal contained a touch of good fortune as Rivaldo's 25-yard free-kick deflected off Babayaro in the Chelsea wall and left De Goey stranded.
Chelsea blunted the immediate threat of a buoyed Barcelona, then almost scored themselves four minutes before half-time when Tore Andre Flo headed just wide.
But seconds before half-time calamity struck as Patrick Kluivert, restored to the side after falling out with Louis van Gaal, hit a 20-yard shot against the post. It rebounded to Figo, who cut inside and fired the ball past De Goey's clutching left hand.
Chelsea trudged into the dressing room suddenly behind on aggregate, unable to find an antidote to Barcelona's forward surge and a long way from looking like scoring themselves.
After the interval Barcelona picked up where they left off and De Goey did well to block a shot from Philip Cocu. But, just as the home side had profited from a touch of luck to take the lead, so Chelsea benefited now.
On the hour Hesp collected an innocuous back-pass and, under pressure from Gianfranco Zola, miskicked his clearance straight to Flo out wide. The Norwegian, spotting the keeper off his line, took careful aim and steered a brilliant bending shot into the bottom left corner.
Chelsea were back in the lead on aggregate but the Catalan threat lived on. De Goey tipped Michael Reiziger's dipping cross over and from Josep Guardiola's corner Kluivert headed the ball against the join of post and bar. The substitute Dani, unmarked, then hit the side- netting and forced another fine save from De Goey.
Chelsea were a tantalising seven minutes from victory when Barcelona found their aggregate equaliser. This time Dani rose high to head Figo's cross past De Goey. Two minutes later Frank Leboeuf was forced to bring down Kluivert from behind only for Rivaldo to miss the penalty.
In extra-time the world player of the year made amends from the spot to give his team the lead and six minutes later Barcelona sealed victory when Kluivert outjumped Bernard Lambourde to head home Guardiola's free-kick despite the brave De Goey getting a hand to the ball.
Chelsea battled on. Dennis Wise and Leboeuf went close but at the other end Gabri should have scored and De Goey again denied Dani.
After such a run in the Champions League it seems cruel that Chelsea are unlikely to play in it next season as they struggle to claim a qualifying place in the Premiership.
There is, of course, the FA Cup final to come. But one sus pects winning that would be scant consolation for last night's defeat and the deficiencies it exposed in Vialli's grand plan.
• Valencia set up an all-Spanish Champions League semi-final against Barcelona next month when they beat Lazio 5-3 on aggregate despite losing 1-0 in Rome last night to a goal by Juan Veron.
Barcelona (3-4-3): Hesp; Puyol (Abelardo, 86min), F de Boer, Reiziger (Sergi, 105); Gabri, Guardiola, Cocu, Zenden (Dani, 72); Figo, Kluivert, Rivaldo.
Chelsea (4-4-2): De Goey; Ferrer (Lambourde, h-t), Desailly, Leboeuf, Babayaro; Di Matteo, Deschamps (Petrescu, 102), Wise, Morris; Zola (Poyet, 105), Flo.
Referee: A Frisk (Sweden).
