Fabergas expects Barca to beat Chelsea

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas believes his former club Barcelona are favourites to avenge last season’s Champions League defeat by Chelsea when the two sides meet again in the last 16.

Fabregas, who came through the youth ranks at the Nou Camp before being snapped up by the Gunners, believes Barca are an improved team from the one that was defeated by Chelsea over two legs in the same competition last season.

The 18-year-old has praised the Blues’ defensive steel but still predicts Frank Rijkaard’s side will come out on top.

“The two teams have changed but Barcelona are playing majestically,” said Fabregas, who remains a fan of the Catalan giants.

“No-one will want to lose a tie like this. For me, Barcelona are a little ahead of the rest in spite of the fact that Chelsea are very well organised and defend well.”

Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-0 in the Premiership last weekend, a result which effectively knocked the Gunners out of the race for the title with Arsene Wenger’s side now 20 points adrift.

The game was not without controversy, with Arsenal denied what seemed a fair goal when Robin van Persie’s strike was ruled out for offside.

Fabregas believes their London rivals are enjoying the rub of the green at present, although he hopes that will quickly come to an end.

“In the first half we hit the post and had a goal ruled out while they also hit the post but the ball then went in,” he added in Catalan newspaper Sport.

“When a team has good fortune these things happen but eventually the luck comes to an end. That was the case with us when we won the league without losing a game – the following year we weren’t champions.”