Chelsea to Lodge Official Complaint

After some of Anders Frisk (you know the ref that got hit in the head by a coin in the Olympic Stadium, during group matches) decisions in this highly fought and exciting encounter it doesn't surprise me at all that anybody from Chelsea wanted to speak.

Deco, a Chelsea target in the Summer, was diving and falling around all night and would have even won the Gold medal had he been in an Olympic diving competition, when he threw himself about 10 feet into the penalty area during the early minutes of the first half. Frisk just looked at him and waved play on. No yellow card. Nothing. Barcelona with all the talent in their side had absolutely no reason to start the diving and falling about antics. But when Barcelona realised that their antics were not going to pay off, they started to play the football that Europe and the World has become accustomed to.

Chelsea were forced onto the back foot right from the kick off. Barcelona's continual pressure put Chelsea under the cosh time and time again. The defence that have only conceded eight goals in the Premiership held firm and after subduing the Catalan, took the lead after thirty-one minutes. Duff chased down and brilliantly controlled a high ball from defence, before crossing into the Barcelona penalty area where the unfortunate Melloti turned the ball into his own net. Against the run of play Chelsea were 1-0 in front.

Minutes later it should have been two. Drogba with a clear run of goal and only the goalkeeper to beat, screwed the ball wide of the right hand post. Unfortunately for Drogba he didn't have much time left to redeem himself because ten minutes into the second half, after a 50-50 challenge with another dying swan, Barca's keeper Valdez, Drogba was shown his second yellow card and was dismissed from the field. His dismissal was the defining moment of the game.

Barcelona came more and more into the game and it was no surprise that two goals in the space of eight minutes swayed the advantage into Barcelona's favour.

Firstly Maxi Lopez, substitute for the ineffective Guily, scored with his frist real touch of the game and minutes later he supplied a mis-hit shot come cross into the path of Samuel Eot'o, who was dangerous all night, who gleefully turned the ball into the net.

In search of the third, Chelsea held firm despite Petr Cech making a series of fine saves.

So, two defeats in five days. The first time JM has suffered a stat like that and now Chelsea are going to be without Drogba for the second leg, unless UEFA overturn his 'unlucky' dismissal. Barcelona will not fancy coming to Stamford Bridge in two weeks time. The close confines of the pitch to the stadium, will make an atmosphere a night to remember and hopefully Chelsea will overturn the deficit. 1-0 will do it. Here's to eternal optimism.

Apart from Liverpool, I believe Chelsea are in a better position to progress to the last eight, than either Arsenal or Man Utd.

Onwards and upwards to Cardiff. Surely not three defeats in a week???