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Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea, Champions League Semi Final Second Leg: Blues Come From Behind To Reach Munich Final (GALLERY)

The Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: 24/04/2012 21:49 Updated: 24/04/2012 22:32

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Chelsea came from 2-0 down with 10 men to reach their second Champions League semi-final in sensational fashion.

Sergio Busquets gave the Catalans the lead in the 33rd minute before John Terry was sent off for kneeing Alexis Sanchez in the back.

Lionel Messi then assisted Andres Iniesta to double the Blaugrana lead, but Brazilian midfielder Ramires executed a marvellous chip on the stroke of half-time to put Chelsea ahead in the tie on away goals.

Early in the second-half, Didier Drogba fouled Cesc Fabregas to concede a penalty, but World Player of the Year Lionel Messi smashed the crossbar and personally struggled for the remainder of the match afterwards.

A fabulous rearguard display from the Blues, adopting their Italian manager's catenaccio blueprint, frustrated a pedestrian and fraught Barca who appeared to have no plan B.

With three minutes of extra-time signalled, substitute Fernando Torres latched on to a hoofed clearance from Ashley Cole to round Victor Valdes and equalise, taking Chelsea ahead in the tie and giving them the cushion of a second away goal.

Di Matteo will be without not only Terry, but Branislav Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul Meireles for the final after the trio all picked up second bookings in the tournament, meaning a one-match suspension.

Gary Cahill's season could be in doubt too after he appeared to pull a hamstring when stretching for the ball in the opening minutes of the match.

Portuguese David Luiz will start the 19 May final against either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid, providing he regains fitness in time for the Munich event.

Avid tweeter Juan Mata couldn't contain his joy:


Juan Mata García
Yes!!! We're going to Munich! We're playing the big final!! We have suffered but it was worth it... Thanks to your support we made it!

A sheepish Terry, who initially claimed he did not deliberately knee Chilean Sanchez, apologised for his rashness in a post-match interview with Sky Sports' Geoff Shreeves.

"It does look bad on the replay. I raised my knee but hopefully the people out there who know me, know I'm not that kind of player.

"I feel as though I let them (team-mates) down. I have apologised to them and I apologise to the Chelsea fans. At the time I was bewildered, but looking at the replay it looks a red card. On a personal note, of course (it hurts I miss the final). But we deserve to be in the Champions League final. I really hope that doesn't take away from this win."

The Chelsea captain will be banned for three European matches, and Frank Lampard now looks set to skipper the team in their second Champions League final.

But it will be difficult to take the gloss off of a performance which arguably outranks Manchester United's comeback from two down against Juventus in Turin in 1999.

Chelsea's Herculean effort has ensured a second European Cup final in the club's history, and they have under a month until they get their chance to exorcise the ghost of Moscow 2008.

Loading Slideshow...

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Barcelona fans in the stands

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    A Barcelona fan in the stands holds up signs for Eric Abidal and David Villa

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Barcelona's Javier Mascherano (left) and Chelsea's Ramires battle for the ball

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Chelsea's manager Roberto Di Matteo talks to Gary Cahill as he goes off injured

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Barcelona's Gerard Pique lies injured on the ground after a clash with his head

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Chelsea's John Terry (right) is sent off after a clash with Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Chelsea's John Terry leaves the pitch after he is sent off for a clash with Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Chelsea's Ramires scores his side's first goal

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Barcelona's Sergio Busquets (left) celebrates scoring the opening goal of the game

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Chelsea's Frank Lampard looks on as Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez lies injured

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Barcelona's Lionel Messi fails to score from the penalty spot as he hits the crossbar

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Chelsea's Frank Lampard tangles with Barcelona's Francesc Fabregas

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Chelsea's Fernando Torres celebrates scoring his side's second goal with his team-mates

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Chelsea's Fernando Torres celebrates scoring his side's second goal

  • Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Barcelona v Chelsea - Camp Nou Stadium

    Chelsea's Fernando Torres celebrates scoring his side's second goal

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Chelsea came from 2-0 down with 10 men to reach their second Champions League semi-final in sensational fashion. Sergio Busquets gave the Catalans the lead in the 33rd minute before John Terry was ...
Chelsea came from 2-0 down with 10 men to reach their second Champions League semi-final in sensational fashion. Sergio Busquets gave the Catalans the lead in the 33rd minute before John Terry was ...
 
 
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daltonboy
58 Fans
15:02 on 25/04/2012
Ha Ha Ronaldo & Ousil are waiting for you! You Chelsea boys are in for one hellava beating & with half your team missing you have no chance. Real madrid are going to dominate Europe now and Barcelona are on the way down. The only light I can see in the final is you do not have to worry about J.T. taking a penalty!! As you can see I am an unbiased Man U fan and we will get a result this weekend against city and take the Premiership again.I hope you stuff the Scoucers in the FA cup final. I also think AMBRO should stick with your manager,he is doing a good job but needs to rebuild with younger players,just what Fergie did.
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vividrick
I came, I saw...I had a cup of tea!
506 Fans
12:07 on 25/04/2012
Fantastic night of football, I'm a Newcastle fan, but was delighted for Chelsea, as I do when supporting Premiership teams in Europe. The game had everything, but Ramirez' goal was the turning point, very Roy Keane'esque from the Turin semi-final back in 99.

...yes, before you all say so, this looks like it's put my team out of the Champions League running, though to be honest, the Champions League would have been a little too much too soon, we're in the Europa League anyway, and all Toon fans would have bitten the hands off if we were offered that at the start of the season.

Brilliant night of football, just goes to show, that the best really can be beaten. To use a boxing analogy, like with Ali at the 'Rumble In The Jungle', when the odds are stacked against you, when you know pound-for-pound you're the underdog, defend & absorb as much as you can, then hit them & surprise them on the break! Good luck Chelsea in the final.
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parrotfish
373 Fans
02:09 on 25/04/2012
That was some display by Chelsea two matches in a row against Barca. And tonights was an unbelievable effort with only 10 men.

Only sour note was Terry claiming "It does look bad on the replay. I raised my knee but hopefully the people out there who know me, know I'm not that kind of player" No Johnny you are that type of player. You put your team in an impossible position and they bailed you out but this is unforgivable, 2-0 down and you pull a stunt like that to get sent off when you know the Barca player would flop.
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kevlhill
0 Fans
23:28 on 24/04/2012
Okay, it's `eating humble pie' time: 6 days ago, on this very page, I lurched into a tirade against Chelsea's negativity and Drogba's acting that was so vitriolic that, not only was I flagged on here for abuse (which I deserved), but I'm surprised I haven't been murdered in my bed by irate Chelsea fans.After watching tonight's game, I have to admit that, even though Chelsea were truely outplayed over both legs, they won and went through to the final. I apologise to Chelsea fans: you were right, I was wrong. But (and it's a very big butt, as they used to say on the `fast show'), not only will Chelsea get stuffed by Real Madrid in the final (I bet Mourinho was laughing his head off tonight, knowing he can and will slaughter his fomer charges), but West Abromovich Albion will get rid of Di Matteo at the end of the season as sure as eggs is eggs just because he wants a `big name' and Di Matteo hasn't put a foot wrong - what say you, Chelsea fans? Do you agree with me that Di Matteo will (wrongfully) be got rid of at the end of the season? What does that tell you about your owner, if you agree? I know what it says to me, but if I write it, not only will I get my comment kicked off of here because of abuse, but the Russian mafia will be camped on my doorstep!
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WillieBlack
308 Fans
01:49 on 25/04/2012
Some people never learn.
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