Barca braced for defining battle

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola insists tomorrow night’s Champions League return against Chelsea will now be the defining point of the season for the Catalan giants.

Guardiola effectively conceded the Primera Division title to bitter rivals Real Madrid after a 2-1 defeat in ‘El Clasico’ at the Nou Camp on Saturday night left them seven points adrift in La Liga.

They now welcome Chelsea looking to turn around their semi-final tie, having lost 1-0 in the first leg at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday, determined to hang on to their European crown.