Not many of Chelsea’s players have anything that looks like a scar from previous games against Barcelona, considering the last time the Blues played against Barcelona was in 2012.
A large number of these current crop were not around the last time Chelsea faced Barcelona. Roberto Di Matteo led Chelsea to the final at the expense of Barcelona in that year, in dramatic fashion.
The likes of Gary Cahill and David Luiz can share in the experience. But for others, their experience against Barcelona is a sore one. One that left scars, they will so desperately want to erase.
Andreas Christensen will look back on his days at Borussia Monchengladbach and know his young reputation was heightened after his performance in the two legged tie with the Catalunya which ended in a 6-1 aggregate defeat. He shone in the tie, but his side was dumped out of the competition later on after the group stage.
Another player looking to wipe his tears after previous encounters with Barcelona is Antonio Rudiger. In his time at Roma, Rudiger was part of the team that lost 6-1 in 2014-15. At Chelsea, he will hope the Blues’ good record against the Spain giants will give him good enough revenge.
Finally, Thibaut Courtois will also hope his last seven games record against Lionel Messi will continue, after losing his first three against Barcelona, while at Atletico Madrid. Courtois was actually on a four consecutive La Liga defeats against Barcelona while in Spain and will hope to join Petr Cech as one of the three Chelsea goalkeepers to have manned the post for the club, and kept good records.
