Catalans will have to cope without their inspirational captain Andres Iniesta, the man who has pedigree when it comes to beating the Blues.
Chelsea play "ugly" football under Jose Mourinho and the Premier League's runaway leaders deserve to be branded as boring because of their refusal to attack teams, their former manager Ruud Gullit has said.
IMAGES from the Premier League match played between Liverpool and Luton at Anfield on Wednesday
Chelsea have re-signed Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba on a one-year contract, the Premier League club said on Friday.
Chelsea captain John Terry, whose current deal expires at the end of the season, is confident he will extend his stay at the club and the 35-year-old defender brushed aside any concerns he may have lost a yard of pace over the years. "I certainly think I'll be here next season," said Terry, who scored an own goal as well as a last-gasp equaliser on Saturday against Everton. "I think when you get to my age, there are a lot of people out there saying, 'he's 35, almost 36, maybe his legs have gone,' but I've never had legs, it's as simple as that. "I've never been quick in my career.
The German captain joined the English champions from Bayern Munich on a free transfer.
The centre-back has not played since Sarri took over from Antonio Conte at the start of the season, and says he could call time on his career at Stamford Bridge when the transfer window reopens if his situation does not improve.
Chelsea have re-signed midfielder Nemanja Matic from Benfica, three years after selling him to the Portuguese side, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.
Watford equalised seconds before halftime through Abdoulaye Doucoure and in a rampant spell of attacking football went ahead four minutes after the break when Roberto Pereyra tapped home a Richarlison cross.
Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri wants to keep Belgian forward Eden Hazard at the Premier League club and improve him as a player.
Former England midfielder Frank Lampard says he will be "in close contact" with his old club Chelsea as he decides on his next career move. The 38-year-old left New York City in November and media speculation has mounted that he could return to the London team in a coaching role or some other capacity. Lampard watched Premier League leaders Chelsea's 1-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion earlier this month and was an onlooker at training on Wednesday when manager Antonio Conte said he was in good enough shape to continue his playing career.
Chelsea have left the door open for John Terry to stay at Stamford Bridge after the central defender announced that he is leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season. The Premier League champions said he could be offered the chance to stay at Stamford Bridge following a meeting with the club last month. "In that meeting he asked about the possibility of an extension to his existing contract," Chelsea said in a statement. "John was advised that while no new deal was currently on the table, that situation could change in the coming months." Chelsea said they had the utmost respect for Terry and everything he has helped them achieve, describing him as a "fantastic servant and superb captain".
Only one point separates the two sides with Chelsea on 31 and City on 30 but Antonio Conte's impact at Stamford Bridge appears greater than his City counterpart Pep Guardiola's at the Etihad.
Chelsea's ability to grind out victories will make it very difficult for anyone to catch them in the English Premier League, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said.
Italian Antonio Conte was named as Chelsea's new head coach with a three-year contract, the outgoing Premier League champions announced on Monday.
Messi opened the scoring after two minutes and eight seconds, the quickest goal of his career, slipping the ball through Thibaut Courtois' legs from a tight angle.
Struggling Premier League champions Chelsea have held talks with Montreal Impact over former Blues striker Didier Drogba, the Major League Soccer team has said.
With dreams of European glory in tatters, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur turn their attention to the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend clinging to their last chance of silverware this season.
Chelsea agreed a deal to sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, subject to the Spain international agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday
Chelsea may have restored some breathing space over Manchester City with a 2-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday but they have not regained the form that made them runaway title favourites earlier in the season.
Struggling Premier League champions Chelsea have the quality to climb back up the table under interim manager Guus Hiddink, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has said.
The Spaniard missed the 2-1 defeat after injuring his hamstring against Manchester City before the international break.
A Chelsea deal for Barcelona forward Lionel Messi would be impossible under financial fair play rules, assistant coach Steve Holland said on Friday.
Chelsea's Brazilian contingent will grow in size to five players after they agreed to sign teenager Nathan from Atletico Paranaense on Thursday.
Hazard collected 53 percent of the vote making him a comfortable winner, while he and Terry's Chelsea team mates Cesc Fabregas, Branislav Ivanovic and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also featured in the top 10.
Reaction to Arrizabalaga's refusal to be substituted
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Tuesday
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri made a winning start to life in the Premier League as his team enjoyed a 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday.
Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has laughed off talk that his side are favourites ahead of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg against Chelsea in Naples.
The decision comes after the player's positive drugs test for cocaine and his admission that he took the drug.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte gave short shrift to media reports linking him with a move away from the English Premier League leaders and said he was eager to build "something important" at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal travel across town to a vengeful Chelsea on Saturday knowing that another depressing defeat at Stamford Bridge would see their Premier League title hopes swept away with the lunchtime leftovers.
Chelsea replaced Liverpool at the top of the English Premier League with a 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough.
Chelsea forward Eden Hazard expects ManchesterCity and Liverpool to be the London side's main rivals in the Premier League title race after the top three sides all enjoyed victories on the weekend.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday
Arsenal closed the gap on leaders Liverpool with a 2-1 Premier League victory at Nottingham Forest
Arsenal denied Chelsea the double with a 2-1 victory in an enthralling FA Cup final.
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