Barca have been drawn to face Portuguese club Benfica in the quarters of the Champions League. They will next face AC Milan or French Champions Lyon should they advance to the semis. In the final, they will face any of Juventus, Arsenal, Inter, Ajax or Villarreal.

A revenge for the 1994 Champions League finals loss to Milan in the semis, victory over the superb Juventus in the final. I can see it right now!

I do hope Arsenal does not do any thing extra ordinary in the first game or even comes up with a draw. They have been struggling domestically and are the only English Club left. Any promise would mean all the English newspapers yelling for Arsenal to do a repeat of Liverpool last year. Well every day is not Sunday and it ain’t gonna happen!

I do hope Arsenal crash out as fast as possible also because it could mean they cannot afford Thierry Henry for long and he might come to Barcelona. Certainly mouth watering prospects for me!

Barcelona drew with Chelsea 1-1 in the second leg of the Champions League pre quarter finals to advance on aggregate (3-2) having won the first leg 2-1.

Revenge is sweet. Last year was heart breaking for the fans of Barcelona including yours truly. The exit after losing to Chelsea in the two leg Champions League pre quarters was very hard to digest. After all Barcelona was playing excellent football. Being excellent is not good enough though. The game is so uncertain that it can change within minutes. You have to fight against the unpredictable nature of the game itself. That is when a team keeps winning which translates to real greatness.

Coming to the game. Chelsea started off controversially arriving late in the tunnel. Jose Mourinho was already there but the team wasn’t. It meant that the start was delayed by three minutes. The early game saw some excellent passes between Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho. A great and a possible future great combining to create magic. Messi limped off in the 25th minute, which may explain why he missed the weekend La Liga match, to be replaced by Henrik Larsson.

The first half was tight with Barcelona having more possession. They had a lot more chances as well. Chelsea managed a few chances which were more dangerous but without result. Crespo replaced Drogba in the 58th minute while Mourinho theatricals were showing no signs of reducing in the back ground. Crespo soon had a real chance of scoring but strike was wide to the anguish of Chelsea.

Ronaldinho kept up his skill and as the clock ticked on, the task at hand kept becoming tougher. It became near impossible when Ronaldinho scored the first goal of the match in the 78th minute. John Terry’s defense had no answer to the Ronaldinho brilliance. All Chelsea could do was hope to score two goals to force an over time. Had the shot of Eto’o gone in instead of hitting the pole for a 2-0 score line, the victory would have been more convincing.

It didn’t matter. Neither did the penalty scored by Frank Lampard in the 90th minute when John Terry was fouled in the box. The 1-1 score line was enough for Barcelona to advance into the quarters of the Champions League, having already won the first leg 2-1. Mourinho can lay no charges on Messi for play acting. He cannot lay charges on Rijkaard. He may well have some thing to say. I don’t care if he appreciates Barcelona or lays more allegations on it actually.

I know what the score line says. To state I am happy would be to say there has been death when there was man slaughter. Moments like these when the feelings are so over whelming reiterates the beauty of sport. There are wins, there are lessons. There aren’t any losses.

Barcelona: Valdes, Oleguer, Puyol, Marquez, Van Bronckhorst, Deco, Edmilson, Motta, Messi (Larsson 25), Ronaldinho, Eto’o.

Subs Not Used: Jorquera, Belletti, Giuly, Sylvinho, Van Bommel, Iniesta.

Booked: Motta, Puyol.

Goals: Ronaldinho 78.

Chelsea: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, Gallas, Joe Cole (Huth 83), Makelele, Lampard, Duff (Gudjohnsen 58), Robben, Drogba (Crespo 58).

Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Maniche, Geremi, Wright-Phillips.

Booked: Joe Cole.

Goals: Lampard 90 pen.

Att: 98,000

Ref: Markus Merk (Germany).

I had spoken regarding the bright future ahead for Barcelona last year some time after they had won their first Spanish la liga under Rijkaard.

The official FCB site says:

Barça are as regular this season as they were in their 2004-05 championship winning season. They have the same number of points as they did after the same number of matches last season, and are also eight points clear of the second placed team.

Add to the fact that fact that Ronaldinho and Larsson are scoring more goals. Larsson, a Swedish and Celtic legend has to fight for his place. Messi is creating the early waves. Maradona has already called Messi his successor.

The players are happy at the club and no one is talking about leaving or making uneasy sounds. They are signing big long term contracts, a process which has continued from last year and are generally happy at the club. Marquez said this on his position with the club:

Things are going very well. The team has, once again, the dynamics to fight and win more trophies and I help that we will be celebrating at the end of the season with our fans. For me, it is also important to keep growing as a player. I feel very comfortable at Barcelona and my target is to stay here for many years to come.

Cable and thus the sports channels have returned to my life. I will catch as much of FCB as I can. I have watched Barcelona build despite the criticisms under Rijkaard. I feel attached and a natural supporter having seen them grow. This is just the beginning.

Barcelona won the first leg 2-1 after dominating possession and could have scored more than they did. The header from Eto’o sealed it. So that should have been the end of it with all the focus on March 7.

Well this is Barcelona versus Chelsea. The clash which has developed into the biggest game in club football. Of course there was more.

Jose Mourinho, the loudmouth that he is, likes to speak. Mourinho said this on Messi:

How do you say cheating in Catalan? Can Messi be suspended for acting? Barcelona is a cultural city with many great theatres and this boy has learned very well. He’s learned play-acting.

Of course he forgot, as Jonathan Stevenson from the BBC points out:

It is only 17 days since English football widely condemned Blues winger Arjen Robben for theatrically diving to get Liverpool keeper Jose Reina sent off in a key Premiership encounter. There is little doubt that Robben’s acting was greater than Messi’s, yet Mourinho accused Reds boss Rafael Benitez of sour grapes for bringing up the incident in his post-match analysis.

Step back in time at this juncture. Chelsea was down after the first leg similarly. In a few minutes of inspirational football in which they caught Barcelona napping. Chelsea capitalised and took the tie away from Barcelona. Did Barcelona fans cry over the fact that Barcelona dominated possession for much of the two matches last year and still lost?

Step back further now. Mourinho attacked the referee Anders Frisk of talking to Barca coach Frank Rijkaard at half-time in Chelsea’s 2-1 first-leg defeat at the Nou Camp last year. This followed Frisk announcing his decision to retire from the game because he had received death threats, and Mourinho was fined and banned for two games for his comments. So in that light the comments which directly implicate the referee Terge Hauge of wrong doing were unwarranted.

Even if Messi did play act to an extent (if he did - we can never be sure either way) isn’t it a part of football. Players from most teams do it despite the rules hoping not to be caught. I do not see why such a big deal has to be made out of it.

Even if it was a gross error from the referee, aren’t errors part of the game? Isn’t it all about facing adveristy and triumphing or at least trying to triumph in the face of it? I can understand Mourinho making as much of an issue out of this as he can. There is still one match to go. So the more he tries to show the loss was undeserving, the more he can avoid his players from going into a shell or thinking negatively. He did it last year and his players came out triumphant.

What I do not understand is why fans, who act neutral need to do it. Chelsea and English Premier League fans who wanted Chelsea to win have been speaking loudly over the red card since it happened. The attitude will not deny Barcelona any thing. But a better attitude and applauding Barcelona for playing well could have probably meant these fans themselves getting more respect.

The much anticipated encounter between Barca and Chelsea has meant the usual war of words between the managers. No use going into that.

Barca decided to take the sensible approach of practising on the poor pitch yesterday as they are to play the match there itself. Chelsea were bemused Barca wanted to practise on that pitch despite compaining about the obvious poor pitch and offering Barca their own facilities. Well was it that difficult for Chelsea to understand Barca wanted to adjust as much as possible to the difficult conditions?

Chelsea went out of their way to complain to FA when Barca wanted to practise 15 minutes extra and denied Barca practising more than an hour. I do see the concerned Chelsea over the obvious Barca threat in all this.

Barca plays a free flowing game and uses one touch passes. This means the smoother the pitch, the better it is for the club. As Puyol said:

The state of the pitch will affect us more. We like to move the ball quickly and play at a high tempo. We’re not used to playing in these conditions. If we concentrate hard and not give the ball away in midfield where Chelsea are strong we should be able to cope. There are no excuses. We are experienced enough to play on all kinds of surfaces.

Chelsea made sure the pitch was further watered on Tuesday. So the conditions will very tough for Barcelona despite Rijkaard taking the diplomatic route in his response:

Chelsea will be affected by the pitch just a much as ourselves. They have quality players with good technique and skill and they would prefer a better pitch. We are not complaining.

As a Barca fan I will be rooting for the Catalanians. But it will be very tough in the first leg.

Barcelona-Chelsea champions league encounters last year were exciting, full of emotions and heart breaking for me as a staunch supporter of Barca. There has been the pitch controversy with Chelsea delaying re-laying the pitch. Obviously Barcelona players aren’t pleased. Silvinho said:

I cannot believe it. I have heard they are making the condition of their pitch worse. I’ve heard many complaints about the pitch.

Why should patches devoid of grass be left for such a crucial match?

The latest suggestion by Mourinho regarding inviting Barca to use their training base doesn’t serve much purpose. The crucial first leg will still be played on a poorer pitch than it should.

Well the conditions will be equal for both teams and whoever plays better in these circumstances will be the winner. The pressure is on Barca as they did loose to Chelsea last year, though by the thinnest of margins (goal difference) in the two leg encounter. History will not look at Barcelona going down two years in a row to Chelsea too kindly. It will mean that Barca will have a tougher challenge to be recognised as a great team in the future by many fans. It would be greatness denied. I hope I am smiling after the second leg is complete on March 7th.

Ronaldinho has signed a contract till 2010 after team mates Eto’o, Xavi, Deco and Valdes had done the same. This is huge news for a Barcelona fan like me. The best news I have heard in days. What it means is that Barca will have a strong core group which can make it a champion side with pedigree history can refer back to. Barcelona showed immense skills last season. People who watchthe English Premiere League will vouch that Chelsea is the best team in the world but I would vouch that Barca is the best.

With a lengthy contract, Barcelona has a chance to show every one their true potential and silence the doubters. Best of all, ronaldinho is saying what every Barca fan would want him to say:

I am very happy in this side and this type of contentment doesn’t have a price. I want for nothing here and look forward to staying for many years

In a big surprise, Barca failed to score versus newly promoted Alaves. I am worried. Barcelona is one side which showed last season it could score a lot of goals. Bonano, the former Barca player jept out of his skin to avoid Barcelona a win.

I hope this is just a hitch start and not a sign of things to come.

After the joy of watching Barca play beautiful one touch football under Rijkaard, I cant wait for the first game on Saturday. Apart from the magic of Ronaldinho, I am looking forward to seeing Van Bommel in his first la liga match for Barca.

The first port of call for the Catalans will be Mendizorroza stadium, home of newly promoted Alaves and the league’s second smallest venue with a capacity of 19,000.

Madrid is looking more knit than last season with the likes of Baptista and Robinho. Can they pose a serious challenge? I certainly hope so as it would lead to a good battle as to who finally ends up the champions.

Also, I really hope Barca can win the Champions league this season and show every one what a great team they are.

So Barcelona will have a small trip to Holland before the Asia tour. They have got Van Bommel and the side surely has a stronger look to it. how do you guarantee the side will remain strong for a long period now?

You get Samuel Eto’o to sign a contract till 2010. If that is not enough, you get Lionel Messi, one of the stars of Argenitina’s win in the under 20 World Cup into the first XI.

It is certainly difficult to break into the first XI of the Barca team but Lopez in a game last season showed how stars can emerge. Messi joined the club at age 14, progressing through the teams and his contract runs till 2012. He is one of the best examples of the Barca youth system.

From the Official Barca site:

At 13 years, Lionel Messi crossed the Atlantic to try his luck at FC Barcelona, joining the club as an under 14 player. Since then, Messi has progressed spectacularly through the different youth categories (Under 14 A, Under 16 B, Under 16 A, Under 18 A, Barça C and Barça B) in record time. During the 2003-2004 season, aged just 16, Messi’s dream came true when he played with the first team in a friendly with Porto to celebrate the inauguration of the Portuguese side’s new stadium. In the 2004-05 season he joined the first team on its ‘On Tour Asia 2004′ trip.