Barcelona will travel to West London tonight buoyed by a rampant 6-2 victory over Real Madrid last weekend. However, the Spanish side will need a big team performance if they are going to get past a Chelsea side determined to make up for their loss last year in Moscow.

Chelsea may choose to go with just Didier Drogba up top with Nicolas Anelka looking set to miss out. Ashley Cole is likely to return after being banned for the first leg, which ended in a 0-0 draw, and German, Michael Ballack, could step straight back into the side.

Thierry Henry is a doubt for Barcelona as he hobbled off against Madrid and missed training with a knee injury. Barca also have defensive problems with Carlos Puyol suspended and Rafael Marquez injured. A lot of pressure will be placed on former Manchester United player, Gerrard Pique, who will no doubt have to martial a make shift defence.

Barca go into the tie backed by a big and fearsome performance. It is unlikely that Chelsea will be fazed by this side’s result last weekend but if they go to London with a clear game plan and play any where near like they did against Madrid then it could be a long night for Guus Hiddink’s men.

Chelsea’s home advantage could just see them through. They will be disappointed not to have scored an away goal last week but they are in with a real chance. If they can keep Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi quiet all night then Barca’s main influences will be muted.

Guus Hiddink insists that his side are ready and not afraid. He said: “Their 6-2 win was a respectable performance but every game is different. Having scored six it will give them a tremendous boost, but I think this game will be a lot different.”

Chelsea will be looking to their big players to see them through the tie. Captain, John Terry, must lead from the front and make sure his defence is organised, compact and tight. This will allow Frank Lampard and the other attacking players to flow forwards and create space and time for each other.

However, they must be wary of the counter attack. Manchester United’s third goal against Arsenal showed last night how clinical this piece of play can be with the right momentum and players in the process. If Barca get any foothold in the midfield then they have the players necessary to dominate this area of the pitch all night long.

Ironically it has the pre-match feeling of an English cup-tie and could well end up being that sort of game in terms of play and atmosphere. Chelsea will need the fans to get right behind the team and make Stamford Bridge as intimidating as they can. If Barca are allowed to settle then this could be disastrous.

It is a very hard game to call and for now Manchester United won’t care who wins. Whoever gets their nose in front early could press on and take the match. For neutrals it would be good to see yet again two big English sides in the final but Barca must not be counted out. They could easily produce a display that none of us expect and something that takes our breath away.

It is time again for one of the most historic and passionate derbies in world football as Barcelona make the trip to the Bernabeau to take in Real Madrid in La Liga.

With just four points separating Barca at the top and Madrid in 2nd then we are likely to see all of the aggression and quality that this match up can bring to the football table.

Religion and history have marked this match for the history of the derby so there is also an added spice for the fans. Barca may have one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League return leg against Chelsea and therefore it could be the perfect time for Madrid to cash in and get vital points back on the board.

Madrid will be relying on their passion and team spirit to get them through this one as Barca arguably have the edge in terms of quality within their squad. The only injury for Barca is the loss of defender Rafael Marquez who went off with a knee problem in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea.

Madrid will be drawing on all of their experience and will look for a big performance from Raul. Whether or not their manager, Juande Ramos, decides to bring back Arjen Robben after a spell out of the side remains to be seen but his inclusion will not doubt add the smallest amount of fear into the Barcelona full backs.

Madrid will have to counter the influence of Xavi and Yaya Toure in the middle of the pitch if they are to impose themselves on this game. This is without mentioning Barca’s attacking line up of Theirry Henry, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o. However, Barcelona manager, Guardiola, may decide to rest one or two with Europe in mind. Bojan may well get a start, which will suit the Madrid defence regardless of his potential, and ability.

No doubt the home support for Madrid will be a big factor. Barca have what it takes to easily boss this game in the same manner as they did against Chelsea. However, Madrid will be lifted by the fact that they don’t really have any right to be in the position they are having looked out of the title race at the turn of the year.

A victory for Madrid will put them within another victory of gaining top spot from Barca and every single Madrid fan will be taking this one as passionately and importantly as any other El Classico match in recent times. Bookings are guaranteed but hopefully goals will be the talking point and not injuries or gamesmanship.

This arguably the best Barcelona side there has ever been but the fact this match is in between their European campaign could prove the difference. Barca may have the edge in terms of man-to-man match ups but with such an important trip to London this week it will be easy for them to take their eye off the ball and allow Madrid in for what could be a decisive victory.

After battling out for a 0-0 draw last night at the Nou Camp in Barcelona, Chelsea will take a slight subconscious advantage into the return leg of their Champions League semi-final.

In one of the most entertaining goalless draws that are ever likely to be seen, Chelsea played magnificently as they endured a Barcelona onslaught from start to finish. Theirry Henry was the most noticeable of the Barcelona players as the rest of his teammates were kept admirably quite by the entire Chelsea side.

Guus Hiddink’s men could even have stolen a one-goal advantage as Didier Drogba had clear chances to score, only to be denied by the tactical positioning of Barca keeper, Victor Valdes.

Chelsea will be buoyed by the fact they became the first team this season to go the Nou Camp and come away with a clean sheet still in tact, everyone else who has been there has been pretty much ripped apart.

Chelsea would have liked the away goal but they can now switch the pressure on Barcelona who will be disappointed not to take anything to Stamford Bridge when the teams meet for the second leg in a week’s time.

The match delivered everything that it was expected to deliver; passion, aggression and some Oscar award winning play-acting. Chelsea must be credited for a disciplined performance when they could easily have been over run and conceded more than just a single goal. If Barca had been 3-0 up at half time then not many would have complained.

Hiddink’s tactics can be marginally criticised but there is no dancing around the fact that his team got the job done. True enough they did not score themselves but the succeeded in keeping out one of the most talented attacks at the other end.

The draw allows Chelsea to go into the second leg in London with a more expansive attitude. They have played their disciplined performance to keep things level for when they unleash the atmosphere of Stamford Bridge.

Barcelona also picked up a key injury when defender Rafael Marquez pulled up with not a single person near him before hobbling off with what looked like an intensely painful knee injury. Josep Guardiola will no doubt have a headache or two over which tactics to deploy in West London but his side showed last night the dominance over a game they are capable of.

This game could well go right down to the wire. Barca are not going to go to West London and park the bus in front of goal the entire night and neither will Chelsea. If Chelsea play with half the discipline and passion that each of their players showed last night then they could well run away with the tie.

However, the match showed why Barca are touted as European favourites. If Chelsea have an off night in the return leg then it could well be a cricket score victory for the Spanish side.

One thing is for certain, we are in for a special game this time next week.