League failings make semi-final even bigger for Barca and Blues

Tomorrow night’s beautifully poised Champions League semi-final second leg at the Camp Nou has suddenly taken on a greater importance than even these two massive clubs could have imagined.

Prior to kick-off on Saturday it seemed clear that Chelsea needed to win at Arsenal to realistically stay in the hunt to qualify for next season’s Champions League. That, of course, is presuming they don’t win this year’s competition.

Trailing Real Madrid by four points, Barcelona knew only a win over their fiercest rivals would do if they were to stay in the hunt to retain their La Liga crown. The stakes were high but both Chelsea and Barcelona showed that at least half an eye was on tomorrow night’s match in the teams selected at the weekend.