I think this match will be more competitive than most are assuming.
Barca is the better side but they not in the invincible form that we've seen so much of in the last few years...the right match prep and some luck and this one could be very tricky.
Chelsea have a chance in these games. When they get Benfica and then Barca I thought they had a good draw.
If yuh want to win this CL thing yuh better off playing Barca in a two leg tie in the middle of a season, when they studying Classico, league and treble rather than at the end of the season when they have two weeks to rest and prepare.
United and Inter win CL going past Barca in that way, CL come close. Madrid beat them in a Cup final in between some CL and league games. Once yuh playing them in that end of season final yuh could forget it.
That being said, Barcelona seems really up for this game. They have a heated rivalry with Chelsea so they not likely to get caught sleeping. Still if Chelsea want to win this thing yuh better playing them now.
I strongly disagree with this, in fact this sounds alot like something a Man Utd fan would say to take the sting off their lopsided loss in the final.
At this late stage of the season, most teams who have reached the semi-final stage of the CL also have important games in other competitions. They are probably playing for the title so every league game is key, and they are probably at the latter stages of cup competiton. Barca is not at a sole disadvantage in that respect.
Playing them over 2 legs is more difficult because yuh over the course of 2 legs luck will average out. You could park the bus, hold them off and ride yuh luck in yuh home leg like Chelsea and Milan did, but then you have to go and do it all over again on a big wet pitch in Barca with the ball moving at pace. That makes it a much more monumental task.
In a one-off final however anything can happen, and with the right tactics and most importantly,
on a neutral venue, yuh could play a tactical game, frustrate them and wait for yuh opportunity to come. Holland versus Spain in the World Cup final was a prime example, Spain (which is a Barcelona clone) knock all the ball on the field, but Holland soak up the pressure and even had genuine opportunities to hit them on the break with Robben and steal the final. You could get a jumbie goal like in the 70th minute from a corner or free kick and then batten down the hatches for the last 20... Now picture that Holland v Spain fixture now being played over 2 legs, Spain is more likely to prevail.
The mistake Manchester United make in last year final was to try to match them toe for toe thinking that their brand could somehow overcome Barcelona. Only Alex Ferguson could explain how a 4-4-2 featuring a centre midfield of Giggs and Carrick was supposed to counteract Xavi, Iniesta and co. Impossible.
To beat Barcelona, the key is to relax yuh ego and cede the midfield, soak up pressure, frustrate them and then hit them on the break. Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid have done this and shown the way to do it.. Manchester United and Arsenal have shown what happens when you stick to your methods.