Messi scores, Barca draws at Chelsea

Goals: Willian 62' - Messi 75'

Using the same starting lineup as their last La Liga win, Barca dominated possession on Chelsea's pitch, with the visitors having 72% possession at one point.

In addition to their superior passing, Barca were also the team that created the first scoring opportunities. In the 16th minute, if he had headed Messi's cross more carefully, Paulinho could have scored the opening goal. Seven minutes later, Messi and Luis Suarez took turns missing the chance to finish when receiving a cross from Iniesta.

Compared to Barca, Chelsea played more counter-attacks but the number of dangerous situations increased over time.. Thanks to the breakthroughs from Willian and Hazard, the reigning Premier League champions switched to pressing and almost opened the scoring in the last 15 minutes of the first half. Willian had two shots that hit the post, while Hazard was the author of a volley that went just over the bar.

Not giving up on their determination to win the first leg, Chelsea pressed forward with more attacks from the start of the second half. Willian continued to play the role of a spark for the team, and was also the author of the opening goal in the 62nd minute. The Brazilian star scored when he dribbled past Busquets and then curled the ball into the near corner of the goal, while goalkeeper Ter Stegen could only stand and watch, defeated.

In addition to Willian's sharp shots, Chelsea also caused difficulties for Barca with their multi-layered defense. Thanks to the deep formation protecting the goal, The Blues limited Barca's number of shots to three throughout the match.

Chelsea could have secured their first-leg victory if centre-back Andreas Christensen had not made a mistake in the 75th minute. The Dane's missed clearance was intercepted by Iniesta and passed to Messi, who scored. The Argentine's left-footed strike found the near post, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois misjudged it and dived to the other corner.

This was the first goal M10 has scored against Chelsea in nine matches. Among the top teams, Atletico Madrid are the only opponents to have kept a clean sheet against Messi in the Champions League.

Thanks to the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, Barca have a slight advantage ahead of the second leg. If the match ends 0-0 on March 14, the Nou Camp team can advance to the quarter-finals under the away goals rule.