PREVIEW: CL semis - Chelsea v FC Barcelona

FOOTBALL - The second semifinal match in this season’s Champions League takes us to Stamford Bridge where Chelsea host FC Barcelona. The last instalment of this match ended in high drama with Andrés Iniesta’s goal at the death sending Barça through to the 2008/2009 CL final, leaving the Blues gutted. Some key facts on this match

> Chelsea and AC Milan are the only two clubs to have won at least three CL matches vs FC Barcelona.

> Chelsea’s only home defeat against Spanish opposition was against FC Barcelona in 2006 (1-2). They have won nine and drawn four.

> Frank Lampard has played 43 matches in the CL KO phase. He can equal the British record set by Ryan Giggs if he features in both matches vs Barcelona. Lampard has scored 15 of his 22 CL goals in the KO phase, already a British record.

> FC Barcelona have reached the semifinals of the Champions League for the fifth consecutive season, equalling the Champions Cup/Champions League record by Real Madrid from 1956-1960.

> Lionel Messi has scored 14 goals in the current CL campaign, a single season record in the CL main tournament. He also equalled the record for most goals in a CC/CL season by José Altafini (AC Milan, 1962/63) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United, 2002/03).