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And it was Hazard who sent the first warning that Barca were in for an uncomfortable evening when he fired just over from 20 yards five minutes in.
Chelsea constantly tried to surround Messi with three or four blue shirts to limit the Argentine’s threat, but he dug out a cross to the far post where an unmarked Paulinho headed Barca’s best chance of the first-half wide.
Barca then went on to dominate possession, but the visitors lacked penetration and were lucky to go in level at half-time.
Full-time: Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona. @willianborges88‘s excellent goal is cancelled out by Messi’s low drive. All square at the Bridge. #CHEBAR pic.twitter.com/j98JGYp6Ix
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 20, 2018
– Third time lucky for Willian –
Willian scored twice from outside the box against Hull City in the FA Cup on Friday, and was inches away from another long-range stunner when he curled onto the post from 25 yards with Marc-Andre ter Stegen beaten in the Barca goal.
Barca had kept six clean sheets in their previous seven Champions League games, but once again had good luck rather than good defending to thank four minutes before the break when Willian hooked another effort from outside the box off the woodwork.
“Willian could have had a hat-trick — but we go home sad because a fantastic performance is not a fantastic result,” Chelsea’s former Barca midfielder Cesc Fabregas told BT Sport.
“We have to go there to attack and score because 90 minutes defending at the Nou Camp is an eternity, it is a suicide mission. We have to play our game.”
We will fight again in the 2nd leg! ? #KTBFFH pic.twitter.com/cWNHUUfx1C
— César Azpilicueta (@CesarAzpi) February 20, 2018
Barca appeared to have restored order early in the second period, but failed to learn their lesson of Willian’s danger from the edge of the box.
A short corner was worked into the Brazilian’s path and he arrowed a low shot past the rooted Ter Stegen.
However, Barca remain unbeaten in 31 La Liga and Champions League games under Ernesto Valverde thanks to a late rally.
Christensen’s dangerous ball across his own box was a gift for an old scourge of Chelsea in Iniesta and Messi made no mistake by sweeping low past Thibaut Courtois for his 28th goal of the season
Messi was fantastic and showed once again, how superior he is to Ronaldo and Tom Cleverley.
Interesting how Barca has changed 8 players in the past five seasons, and yet have managed to be one of the best clubs in the world, while in the past five seasons, Man United continue to be a club happy with missing C.L. play, finishing 7th, 4th, 5th, 6th + 4th, vying for mini-cups and unable to defend EFL Cup against a non-PL club.
Also, while they were not perfect, it’s clear to see why Conte has crushed Jose in 3 of their last 4 meetings, as Chelsea’s team is measurably superior to that of Man United and if they continue to play this well, Man United will drop to 3rd and depending on Liverpool and Tottenham – drop to 5th.