Chelsea were handily beaten by a ruthless Barcelona side at the Nou Camp in a game that saw a spirited showing from the Blues punished time after time by the Catalan giants.
It’s a disappointing result for Chelsea, who were the better team at times over the two legs, but they can’t really complain as their mistakes were ruthlessly punished by the best players in the world.
Now the season comes down to the FA Cup.
Here are our ratings from today’s featured Chelsea players…
Starting Eleven:
Thibaut Courtois – 5 – Came beyond his near post and let the ball through his legs as Messi scored within minutes of the start. Came out well to block a Suarez effort later in the first half and had a couple of better moments in the second. However it was unforgivable to allow Messi to score the third through his legs again.
Cesar Azpilicueta – 6 – Was doing his level best as captain and couldn’t do much about the first two goals, but his blocked clearance led directly to the third.
Andreas Christensen – 6 – Could do nothing about the first goal which just took an unlucky deflection, but on the second Barcelona goal he dived in rather than jockeying Messi and allowing the rest of the team to get in position.
Antonio Rudiger- 6 – Made a big tackle early on which worked out, but then continued to dive in rashly when a calm head would have been more useful. Escaped a booking in the first half that would have made the rest of his game a nightmare.
Victor Moses – 7 – Had plenty of space down the right in the first half and made the most of it. A really solid effort running at the Barca defence before he was taken off.
N’Golo Kante – 8 – Had it all to alongside a struggling Fabregas but his incredible efforts weren’t enough. Should have done better with his chance in the first half. Kept selling his teammates short in the second period when cuter passes were needed, but the way he covered ground as the game got more stretched was just astonishing, and the score would have been worse without him.
Cesc Fabregas – 5 – We needed Cesc magic tonight and didn’t get it. Couldn’t pick out Moses and Alonso despite the space they had, and gave the ball away to Messi for the second. His issues went on into the second period as he continued to make mistake after mistake.
Marcos Alonso – 8 – Got forward early and back to stop a dangerous moment from Dembele. Was the team’s best outlet in the second period too as he surged down the left time after time. The best player on the away team.
Willian – 7 – Chelsea’s best player in the first half as he tried his best to create danger with his bursts of pace and skill. Continued that good work into the second period but he just couldn’t make the crucial pass in the box.
Olivier Giroud – 5 – A few sloppy touches and pieces of poor movement in the first period when Chelsea needed to use every ball they won. In the second half it was clear he wasn’t on the same wavelength as his teammates. Was given the big start and he didn’t follow up.
Eden Hazard – 6 – Looked desperate to prove himself at this level and tried everything he could in forward positions, with some things working and others not. Got frustrated in the second half as his attempts to change the game didn’t come off, and he continually made poor choices.
Substitutes:
Pedro – 6 – Had only ten minutes to make in impact in a game where Chelsea needed three goals.
Alvaro Morata – 6 – Barely touched the ball after replacing Giroud.
Davide Zappacosta – 6 – Added energy if not much quality down the right.
