Chelsea vs Barcelona live: Champions League showdown pits Estevao against Yamal at Stamford Bridge | OneFootball

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Watching Estevao, Yamal and Pedri is a treat for football purists - Maresca

Chelsea host Barcelona as the sides renew their Champions League rivalry in a blockbuster at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are developing nicely under Enzo Maresca and have won four of their last five games without the injured Cole Palmer but face a huge test with the visit of the Spanish champions, who arrive with Lamine Yamal available again after injury.

Chelsea and Barcelona met in two fiery Champions League semi-finals in 2009 and 2012, but this will be their first encounter since a round-of-16 clash in 2018 where Lionel Messi scored three goals across a 4-1 aggregate win.

Chelsea and Barcelona take identical Champions League records into tonight’s match, with two wins, a draw and a defeat from four games so far. Barcelona’s defeat came on their last visit to England and at the hands of Newcastle.

Team news

Hansi Flick has made just two changes to the side that beat Bilbao 4-0 on their return to the Camp Nou. In defence, Gerard Martin is replaced by Ronald Araujo, with Alejandro Balde moving back into the left-back slot and the Uruguayan coming in at centre-back.

In midfield, Frenkie De Jong replaces Dani Olmo, with Eric Garcia joining Fermin Lopez in the midfield three. Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski lead the line as they did last time out.

Chris Wilson25 November 2025 19:03

Team news

The line-ups should be released in the next five minutes, so here’s a reminder of the early team news...

Aside from Cole Palmer, Chelsea will be without the injury-prone Romeo Lavia alongside Dario Essugo and long-term absentee Levi Colwill, who all remain out of action.

Captain Reece James was withdrawn at half-time against Burnley but Maresca confirmed the move was planned in advance rather than as a result of any injury concerns. Wesley Fofana missed out on the squad for the Burnley game entirely for “protection”, but should be fit to face Barca.

Chris Wilson25 November 2025 18:40

Famous meetings: Round of 16, 2005/06

Two meetings within two seasons at the same stage of the competition. 2005/06 arrived with Barcelona looking to get revenge against the new force in English football, with these sides now clearly among the best in the continent after respective title wins.

This tie was put into Barcelona’s favour as the Blaugrana travelled to Stamford Bridge for the first leg, with an early red card for Chelsea’s Asier Del Horno giving them the disadvantage before own goal from Thiago Motta opened the scoring. However, the advantage told late on as Barca’s pressure resulted in a John Terry own goal before a late winner from Samuel Eto’o decided it.

And it was to be a decidedly less eventful second leg as Ronaldinho’s late goal was enough for Barca to qualify on away goals despite Frank Lamprey’s late penalty.

Chelsea weren't the only London opposition the Blaugrana beat in Europe this season either, as Frank Rijkaard’s side earned a dramatic 2-1 win over Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final.

(Getty Images)

Famous meetings: Round of 16, 2004/05

The first meeting to kickstart the 2000s ‘rivalry’ between these two sides came in the 2004/05 edition of the competition, when Jose Mourinho’s high-flying Blues met the Spanish giants in the Round of 16.

Goals from Samuel Eto’o and Maxi Lopez gave Barcelona a 2-1 home win in a game in which Didier Drogba was also sent off, before a dramatic return leg saw Chelsea claim a 4-2 home win to advance to the next round, with the winner scored by none other than Blues captain John Terry.

The match is probably most fondly remembered for the superb – almost dumbfounding – Ronaldinho goal in the 38th minute, in which the Brazilian shimmied in front of the Chelsea defence before beating Petr Cech with a brilliant punted effort from just outside the area!

While Chelsea went on the win the Premier League that season, they were victims of the infamous Anfield ‘ghost goal’ as they went out of Europe to Liverpool in the semi-finals.

(Getty Images)