How Chelsea Can Beat Barcelona

The question of how to beat Barcelona is one few have answered with much success in recent years.

A second Champions League final is the prize for Chelsea if they come up with the solution. A referee, a penalty shoot-out and a “ghost” goal have left them cursing the fates in their attempts to win the trophy coveted above all others by owner Roman Abramovich.

But to beat Barca they must have the hardest workers and the bravest defenders.

The Catalans claimed a “tear had rolled down the face of the game” that night, having completed 548 passes to Inter’s 67. Chelsea must not, however, be afraid of embracing the Special One’s blueprint if they are to prevail.

The five-second rule: when to press and when to drop off :

Barcelona are devastating in attack but their ability to win the ball back swiftly is vital to their success. Albert Capellas, formerly of Barca’s famed La Masia academy told me of the “five-second rule”, where the team press their opponents immediately on losing possession but then drop deep if they fail to regain it within five seconds.

Once Barca drop back, they wait for precise triggers to press again. If a pass bounces off a foot or an attacker needs to look down at the ball – as soon as their opponents’ options are limited, Barca pounce again.

Chelsea must therefore prioritise simply holding the ball when they win it and breaking Barca’s rhythm. Equally, they must not be afraid to fight fire with fire and deny Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique and others the chance to take the ball into midfield and on to the “passing carousel”, as Sir Alex Ferguson describes it.

The goalkeeper and the back four rarely punt the ball long, and if Chelsea can force hurried clearances their greater physicality gives them a chance to regain possession.

Focus, concentrate, communicate – and never lose sight of Messi : Some teams defend with position, Barcelona defend with possession. Last season they averaged 72% possession in La Liga, and they are close to that figure again this time. But it is crucial Chelsea concentrate as hard when they have the ball as when they don’t.

If Lionel Messi, as he often does, robs a defender high up the field he will be through on goal in a flash. Chelsea must always know where he is.

The question of how you mark him must also be resolved. The Argentine plays between the lines, dropping into the space between midfield and attack. If you man-mark him, he draws his marker away, allowing Xavi, Pedro and Andres Iniesta more time and space.

If a central defender steps out to track Messi, others exploit the space. Chelsea must mark him zonally, passing him on to a team-mate when he leaves their zone. This requires great communication and concentration.

Be strong, be direct: Teams who have caused Barcelona problems have been fast and physical. Chelsea will need willing runners and direct passing if they are to turn Pique and Javier Mascherano.

If Didier Drogba or Fernando Torres can offer runs in behind the Barcelona defence and Frank Lampard can ping passes over the top, Barcelona’s rearguard is likely to edge slowly back towards its own goal. This will make them a less compact team and the quick short-passing game they thrive on will be more difficult to play.

Stop Busquets: Sergio Busquets protects and serves. He is the vital, central cog, the steel to Messi’s silk. Only Xavi completed more passes per match in La Liga last season; only Pique regained possession more often.

Busquets starts many of the moves that end with Barca putting the ball in the net. Raul Meireles is likely to start just behind Chelsea’s front man, but his main responsibility must be to deny Busquets time to lift his head and feed Barca’s most potent attacking threats.

Another area where Chelsea will have an edge is set-pieces; Barcelona are only likely to have two players over six feet in their side.

•By Ben Smith, BBC Sports