Barcelona may not have enough to beat Chelsea

Barcelona may have just hammered Real Madrid 6-2 in their Bernabeu citadel, but Sid Lowe wonders in the Guardian whether the Catalan giants really have what it takes to get past a Premier League defence.

"For a club with the St George's cross on its badge, in a city where Sant Jordi's day is celebrated with thousands of improvised stalls draped in the Catalan flag selling roses for her and books for him, FC Barcelona must be sick of the sight of the English," Lowe writes. "Last season the roses were yet to wilt when Barça's Champions League hopes withered at the hands of Manchester United; this season another English visitor to Camp Nou and another 0-0 draw threatens a familiar end."

This season, "in all competitions Barca's front three alone have scored 94 goals. The team have scored 146 times in 55 games and are the Champions League's top scorers, with 10 goals more than Chelsea." And yet the relentless progress of the Barca machine came to a juddering halt against Chelsea last week. "Last Tuesday was the first time Barcelona had failed to score at home this season."

"Barcelona's bitter reaction to Chelsea's tactics spoke of frustration – the English again the spanner in Barca's works." Lowe reveals the Spaniards' record over the last five games against English teams at Camp Nou: "Drawn three, lost two, won none. It is these last two draws that most stick in the throat, chiefly for the manner in which they were achieved" - the English came to defend and Barca were unable to break them down.

Pep Guardiola's team will have a point to prove tomorrow night, but the intensity of the English may be too much for his illustrious team. ·