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Barcelona exact revenge on Mourinho's Chelsea
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-08 08:55
Mourinho was referring to the first leg at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago when
Chelsea had defender Asier del Horno sent off for a foul on Lionel Messi with
more than 50 minutes remaining, a decision the Portuguese coach criticised.
CHALSEA STARVED
Messi showed brief glimpses of the quicksilver ball skills that illuminated
his performance in London when he made several darting runs towards the Chelsea
area, but centre-backs Terry and Ricardo Carvalho stood firm against the
Argentine youngster.
Didier Drogba managed to test Barca keeper Victor Valdes from a set piece
when he got his head to a Lampard free kick in the 18th minute, but the
Londoners were otherwise forced to live off scraps of possession.
Barca suffered an unexpected setback midway through the half when Messi was
forced to leave the pitch after straining a muscle.
The Catalans made light of the blow, however, and remained in the driving
seat as Henrik Larsson slotted into the three-man attack.
Mourinho finally showed his hand when he threw on Hernan Crespo and Eidur
Gudjohnsen in place of Drogba and Damien Duff.
The gamble almost paid off a few minutes later when Crespo fired just wide of
the near post after the lively Joe Cole had swept in a cross from the right.
But it was Barca who stepped up a gear and took the lead and striker Samuel
Eto'o almost doubled Barca's tally when he hit the far post with an angled shot
in the dying minutes.
The only stain on Barca's victory was when skipper Carles Puyol picked up a
booking that will see him miss the first leg of the quarter-final for an
unnecessary foul on Gudjohnsen.
Revenge did not come into it, says satisfied Rijkaard
BARCELONA, March 7 (Reuters) - Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard said he did not
view his side's Champions League victory over Chelsea as revenge for last year's
defeat.
"I'm not a guy who believes in revenge," said the Dutchman. "It was very
important to go through in a wonderful tournament. For me it doesn't matter who
we beat, we have to go on. Revenge doesn't come into it.
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