A rivalry on the European stage as Chelsea welcome Barcelona in the latest round of Champions League action at Stamford Bridge which has hosted a fair few memorable moments in this fixture
Head Coach Enzo Maresca of Chelsea during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on October 20, 2025 in Cobham, England
Chelsea's Enzo Maresca faces his toughest test yet in the Champions League as his side prepare to welcome Barcelona
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Level on points at the halfway mark of the Champions League group stage, Chelsea and Barcelona are set for a high-stakes showdown at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. Both sides have accumulated seven points from their first four matches, a mixed set of results that currently leaves them just outside the automatic qualification spots, sitting 12th and 11th in the standings respectively.
Chelsea’s most recent European outing saw them held to a 2-2 draw by surprise package Qarabag, with Alejandro Garnacho salvaging a point for the reigning Club World Cup champions. That result means the Blues are still searching for their first away win in this season’s competition. However, Enzo Maresca’s men have been flawless at home, defeating both Benfica and Ajax at Stamford Bridge. Indeed, the Blues haven’t lost a European group stage or league phase match on home soil since 2019, boasting a 16-match unbeaten run (12 wins) since that defeat to Valencia.
Domestically, Chelsea have found their stride ahead of this heavyweight clash, winning three consecutive Premier League games without conceding and climbing to second in the table after a 2-0 victory at Burnley. Remarkably, the Blues have now gone 50 straight Premier League matches without fielding a player over 30 in their starting XI—proof that youth is thriving under Maresca.
Barcelona, meanwhile, celebrated a triumphant return to their refurbished Camp Nou at the weekend, ending a 909-day wait to play at home by thrashing Athletic Bilbao 4-0. Ferran Torres netted twice, Lamine Yamal provided two assists, Robert Lewandowski found the net as usual, and Fermin Lopez also got on the scoresheet, helping Hansi Flick’s side reclaim top spot in La Liga. The win also marked Barcelona’s first clean sheet in 11 matches, as they finally tightened up at the back after a string of high-scoring affairs.
In the Champions League, however, Barcelona’s defensive frailties have been exposed, conceding in every group game so far—including a thrilling 3-3 draw with Club Brugge last time out. The Spanish champions did shut out Chelsea in their most recent European meeting, winning 3-0 in the last 16 of the 2017-18 season. Yet, historically, Stamford Bridge has not been a happy hunting ground for Barca, who have managed just one win in seven visits—their memorable 2-1 triumph on the way to lifting the trophy in 2005-06 but they did secure a place in the final three years later drawing 1-1 in west London thanks to the away goals rule. Chelsea fans, naturally, hold a grudge over that match.
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Chelsea vs Barcelona Betting Tips
Barcelona to win and both teams to score - 3/1 (Betfred)
Over 2.5 goals - 2/5 (Betfred)
Lamine Yamal to score the last goal - 15/2 (Betfred)
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