Barcelona vs Chelsea: Three key battles that could be decisive | OneFootball

Big Champions League nights are always something to savour, and FC Barcelona vs Chelsea is a huge game by every stretch of the imagination. The build-up is bound to be intense, with both managers having good things to say about one another.

Although the cliché says the better team on the night will win, such games are often decided by individual battles. They largely tilt the momentum in one team’s favour.

Barcelona and Chelsea are packed with individual talents like Lamine Yamal, Reece James, and Frenkie de Jong, and how they match up on the pitch makes for an intriguing analysis.

With all this in mind, here are three key battles that could determine the outcome of Barcelona vs Chelsea.

Lamine Yamal vs Marc Cucurella

Photo Courtesy: The official website of FC Barcelona

This is a no-brainer and the most talked-about battle ahead of the game. When Marc Cucurella was asked about it, he said he had already started asking Estaveo to wear shin pads during training sessions, hinting at a tackle-heavy approach.

Lamine, meanwhile, is never one to back down from a fight. Cucurella’s words will only have spurred him on to get one over his national team-mate, and he will relish the battle.

The Spanish teenager is key to the way Hansi Flick’s team plays. When Lamine does not have a good game, Barcelona tend to struggle more often than not, which is not something the Catalan club can afford in London.

This duel could go a long way towards deciding which way the three points go.

Frenkie de Jong vs Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo

Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images

Yes, we are going with a 1v2 in midfield. Even with a partner alongside him, Frenkie de Jong may have to run the show almost single-handedly for Barcelona to thrive on the night.

It is a shame that Pedri is injured and will not be available against Chelsea. If not, this might have become a midfield battle for the ages, but even so, Frenkie has what it takes to lead the midfield for Hansi Flick’s team.

Having sat out the weekend game against Athletic Club due to suspension, Frenkie should be refreshed and ready. However, getting the better of Moises Caicedo will not be easy, given how good the Ecuadorian has been.

A case can be made that Caicedo is the best midfielder in the Premier League at the moment, and you would not be entirely wrong. Let us see how Frenkie fares against the South American duo.

Robert Lewandowski vs Trevoh Chalobah

Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Robert Lewandowski’s early substitution against Athletic Club was a clear indication that he is likely to get the nod as the No. 9 against Chelsea. The Pole is in good goal-scoring form and will want to add to his tally in England.

He will face Chelsea centre back Trevoh Chalobah, a physical menace. The English defender will be all over Lewandowski at every opportunity to prevent him winning aerial duels.

The Pole always tries to act as a reference point for Barcelona and has started dropping deep more often under Hansi Flick. Chalobah is likely to track him across the pitch, and this battle promises to be spicy.

It remains to be seen who comes out on top between Lewandowski and Chalobah, and how it influences the result at Stamford Bridge.