Barcelona 2; Chelsea 2: It would take an archaeologist to get to the very bottom of all the layers of intrigue and gamesmanship that made up this Champions League match, even if Chelsea's stoppage-time equaliser will most absorb observers who saw it virtually confirm the club's passage to the knockout phase. There were treasures in the midst of the debris here.
Chelsea, for instance, fell 2-1 behind after the slickest of Ronaldinho deliveries that was turned in by the former Stamford Bridge player Eidur Gudjohnsen. Having been branded a new-born cheat by his old boss Jose Mourinho, that must have been pleasing for the striker, but the satisfaction did not last. At the very end, Michael Essien crossed deep, John Terry headed back and Didier Drogba, on the run, took the ball on his chest and surged past Rafael Márquez to fire home at the near post.
But the beauty of it was not enough to dispel the malice. As a consequence of a booking here, Frank Lampard, scorer of his club's first equaliser, will be suspended for the trip to play Werder Bremen. His club, however, will go through if they lose their next match against Bremen by no more than one goal.
Two clubs of remarkable talent were supposed to test one another but too often tried the patience of officials and spectators instead. A first half of altercation and simulation meant there were spells when a crowd that hoped for a game to savour had little more than the third-minute opener to nourish them.
Drogba, choosing to barge into Thiago Motta and then being shoved over by Márquez, typified the irritability. Italian referee Stefano Farina barely appeared to be in control and his decisions were often peculiar, but there had to be a trace of sympathy for an official who found himself in a whirl of skulduggery.
Self control had been given the night off, with the first two of Chelsea's cautions imposed for dissent. I was as if, following five meetings in the past couple of years, the relationship between the clubs has become neurotic due to incessant competition.
That, all the same, is hardly a satisfactory explanation. Clubs who together employ 10 of the 30 men on Fifa's shortlist for the world player of the year award should never descend to such a level. Confusion did not help when Frank Rijkaard's players, shortly before the interval, demanded Ashley Cole's expulsion, supposing that he had been booked twice although it turned out it was Frank Lampard who been shown the earlier yellow card. Rarely has refereeing been so akin to conflict resolution.
Frustratingly enough for those who saw the potential of this contest too often going unexplored, there were pieces of classy play. Deco's goal in the third minute illustrated how high the cost of a mistake can be in the Champions League. Khalid Boulahrouz lost possession to Deco and raced down the left before cutting inside to fire low past Hilario from 20 yards with his right foot.
Barcelona could have scored again in the ninth minute as Lionel Messi got past Cole and Lampard before putting his cut-back in the path of Ronaldinho who blazed over from 12 yards out. In the 21st minute Ronaldinho fed Xavi and Hilario did well to touch his shot behind.
Chelsea, despite that, had been far from cowed. In the 33rd minute Victor Valdess had to save a Michael Essien header from Drogba's cross and, from the resultant corner, the keeper turned behind a fierce drive from Arjen Robben.
At least the shards of this damaged contest were appealing fragments. Chelsea, confident in the attack, pressed hard on their way to the equaliser. Robben ought to have had it after receiving a fine ball from Lampard in the 51st minute but fired over from 10 yards. A goal did arrive within seconds. Lampard reached an Essien pass near the by-line and somehow curled home an effort from that tightest angle. Barcelona regained the lead in the 58th minute when Ronaldinho eluded Boulahrouz, with a sublime flick and rolled the ideal delivery with the outside of his right foot for Gudjohnsen to fire home easily.
Guardian Service
BARCELONA: Valdes, Zambrotta, Marquez, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst, Xavi (Iniesta 83), Motta (Edmilson 57), Deco, Messi, Gudjohnsen (Giuly 77), Ronaldinho. Subs not used: Jorquera, Belletti, Thuram, Saviola. Booked: Messi, Motta, Gudjohnsen, Edmilson.
CHELSEA: Hilario, Boulahrouz (Joe Cole 75), Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Makelele, Ballack (Paulo Ferreira 90), Lampard, Drogba, Robben (Kalou 73). Subs not used: Cudicini, Geremi, Bridge, Wright-Phillips. Booked: Lampard, Robben, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Terry, Essien.
Referee: Stefano Farina (Italy).
