Rearguard action gives Barca blues

CHELSEA�S defensive discipline earned them a precious goalless draw against Barcelona last night to make them slight favourites to reach their second successive Champions League final.

Coach Guus Hiddink�s pre-match prediction that the first leg of this semi-final tie would be saturated in goals proved incorrect as Chelsea put in a highly competent defensive shift.

Hiddink�s tactic of giving holding roles to both John Obi Mikel and Michael Ballack worked superbly, and Lionel Messi was marked out of the contest by Jose Bosingwa.