Lionel Messi scored against Chelsea at the ninth time of asking as Barcelona came away from Stamford Bridge with a 1-1 draw.
With a typically assured swish of his left boot, Lionel Messi swept the ball past Thibaut Courtois and silenced the majority inside Stamford Bridge.
The Argentine star finally found the back of the net against the Blues, being fed by Andres Iniesta after the midfielder had capitalised on Andreas Christensen’s error.
It cancelled out Willian’s opener, the Brazilian having struck in the 62nd-minute with an unerring right-footed effort having hit both posts in the first-half.
Taking the game to Barcelona, Chelsea were good value for their lead and, while Antonio Conte will rue their missed chances and will be incensed with the nature of the visitors’ equaliser, the Italian will be delighted with the enterprise, endeavour and work ethic of his players.
It was an absorbing encounter and one that has ultimately left the tie delicately poised heading into the return leg at the Camp Nou in three weeks’ time.
Chelsea become the 71st different side that Lionel Messi has scored against in his 535 goal Barcelona career (from 82 faced) pic.twitter.com/2MF4mTx8MK
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) February 20, 2018
Although Barca hold a slender advantage with the away goal, the Premier League champions can draw encouragement from their display, putting Ernesto Valverde’s men under sustained pressure at times. It gives the Blues enough hope that they can unlock the Barca defence in the Camp Nou.
But, walking off the pitch to the applause of the home supporters, you could clearly see the disappointment etched across some of the Chelsea players’ faces.
No such disappointment for Messi and co, though. They will take this as a significant boost and, given their immense home record, have every reason to believe they’ll get the job done in Catalonia.
For Messi, though, it was a characteristically decisive intervention, one that has swung the tie back in his side’s favour. It also means we can wave goodbye to those ‘Messi has never scored against Chelsea stats.’
https://twitter.com/BetBright/status/966062800291450882
https://twitter.com/messi10stats/status/966062665457168385
“Messi has never scored against Italian teams from open play”
“Messi has never scored against Neuer”
“Messi has never scored against Cech”
“Messi has never scored against Chelsea”The media lines them up and Leo keeps knocking them down. pic.twitter.com/5x0yM9uabE
— Juan (@socraticjuan) February 20, 2018
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