Chelsea vs Barcelona preview, prediction, team news, and head-to-head

This is one of the most highly anticipated matches of the UCL group phase, as European rivals Chelsea and Barcelona lock horns at Stamford Bridge.

Both sides sit on 7 points after 4 games, and will be eager to deliver a statement win here.

Chelsea head into this fixture on the back of a comfortable 2-0 win over Burnley on Saturday, stretching their unbeaten streak to five matches across all competitions.

The win was so stress-free that manager Enzo Maresca was able to rest some of his key players ahead of this heavyweight clash, and confidence will be high thanks to their record of five wins in their last six home games in the UCL.

Barcelona were ruthless on their return to the Camp Nou, smashing Athletic Bilbao 4-0, and banishing all talk of second-season struggles under Hansi Flick.

They sit level on points with Chelsea in the UCL after coming from behind three times to rescue a draw with Club Brugge on matchday four.

Barcelona have won just one of their last four away games and must start picking up points on the road to avoid the Playoffs.

Chelsea have lost just one of the last nine UCL meetings with their illustrious Spanish counterparts (W2, D6), but that did come in the last meeting in March 2018, while Barcelona are winless across their last four trips to Stamford Bridge (D2, L2).

Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer remains out with a toe injury, which could keep him out for a few more weeks, but captain Reece James is expected to be fit.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Marcus Rashford was absent from their weekend fixture through illness and may remain out for this clash.

Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Pedro, Garnacho; Delap

Barcelona: Garcia; Kounde, E. Garcia, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, De Jong; Yamal, Lopez, Torres; Lewandowski

Stamford Bridge will be hostile and loud, with Chelsea fans perennially carrying a sense of revenge whenever they face Barcelona. The Blaugrana have quality throughout their side, and we believe this could be a high-scoring draw.

• Over 2.5 goals

• Robert Lewandowski anytime scorer

• Both teams to score