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Chelsea holds Barcelona to 0-0 draw
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-29 10:18

Chelsea holds Barcelona to 0-0 draw
Barcelona's Rafael Marquez lies on the ground after a challenge during their Champions League semi-final, first leg soccer match against Chelsea in Barcelona April 28, 2009. [Agencies]

Guardiola surprisingly left Puyol on the bench and Marquez's defensive error nearly cost the hosts.

Drogba's chance - Chelsea's only shot on goal to Barcelona's 12 - seemed to rejuvenate the Blues, who had spent most of the first half holding off the rushes of Barcelona's talented forwards, with Andres Iniesta creating most of the danger.

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Lionel Messi had few chances as Florent Malouda and Jose Bosingwa - filling in for the suspended Ashley Cole - kept the Argentina winger in check, with Messi only managing two high shots from outside the area.

"He was having an unusual game this night," Hiddink said. "Of course there's always pressure but when you play in the big teams in Spain or England there's always pressure. It can happen one night but he can cope with the pressure."

Barcelona held most of the possession - just as it did in big wins over Lyon and Bayern Munich - but Chelsea's defense held well, especially after having allowed five goals in the previous round against Liverpool.

"They had a lot of possession but we stayed very tight," Terry said. "We watched videos before the game, they like to play little balls through and we knew that and stopped them doing it."

Marquez injured his left knee in the 50th and soon made way for Puyol.

The physical play between the familiar rivals - who met for the fourth time in five seasons in Europe's top club competition - increased in the second half as the visitors were whistled 20 times to Barcelona's 10. Both teams earned two yellow cards.

"The referee didn't have his best performance today and that's sad," Guardiola said. "I just don't think it's fair when one team is trying to play creatively and attack and the other just sits back. It's not just."