Chelsea should NOT fear Neymar-less Barcelona - Ray Wilkins
CHELSEA should not fear Barcelona and have a good chance of Champions League progression according to Ray Wilkins.
Posted Wednesday, December 13, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk
Fernando Torres and Frank Lampard celebrate Chelsea's winner against Barcelona in 2012
The Premier League champions have been drawn against the Spanish giants in the last 16 of the competition.
And Antonio Conte's side are unbeaten in their last seven games against Barca.
The Catalan club's European pedigree is undisputed as five-time winners of the Champions League.
The La Liga leaders have scored 38 goals in 15 games this season.
But Wilkins believes Lionel Messi and co. are far from infallible.
"Barcelona are not the side that they were with Neymar," the former Blues star and assistant boss told talkSPORT.
"They do have Suarez and Messi but they are not the force they once were.
"This is a good draw for Chelsea.
"There have been some great contests over the years and I see no reason why Chelsea can't knock them out."
Chelsea finished second in their group after drawing their final game 1-1 with Atletico Madrid.
But they will have positive memories from their last encounter with Ernesto Valverde's side which the west Londoners won 3-2 on aggregate.
In 2012 Fernando Torres famously scored at the end of their Nou Camp clash to send Chelsea through to the Champions League final.
But Andres Iniesta's last minute goal at Stamford Bridge dramatically dumped the Blues out of the Champions League back in 2009.
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