In Matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona travelled to face Premier League giants Chelsea. Both teams are historically strong contenders in the competition, with Barcelona winning the trophy five times and Chelsea lifting it twice.
With both squads valued at over one billion euros, this match drew significant attention. However, what unfolded was a largely one-sided contest, as Barcelona eventually fell to a 3–0 defeat.
Chelsea’s Strong Start and Early Pressure
From the opening whistle, Chelsea showed strong attacking intent. In the 4th minute, Enzo Fernández found the net from close range, but the goal was disallowed due to a prior handball by Fofana.
In the 23rd minute, Enzo scored again, only for the goal to be cancelled once more because Chalobah interfered with the goalkeeper from an offside position.
Koundé’s Own Goal Breaks the Deadlock
In the 27th minute, Chelsea finally opened the scoring. Cucurella delivered a cross from the left, and Neto’s near-post attempt created chaos. Jules Koundé, trying to block the shot, accidentally deflected the ball into his own net, giving Chelsea a 1–0 lead.
Notably, this own goal made Barcelona the team with the most own goals (11) in the Champions League since its reform in 1992, surpassing Manchester United and Sporting CP (both with 10).
Araújo Sent Off After Two Yellow Cards
In the 44th minute, Barcelona suffered another blow. Ronald Araújo brought down Cucurella and received his second yellow card of the night, resulting in a red card.
This made Araújo the third player in club history, after Piqué and Eric Garcia, to be sent off twice in Champions League competitions. With Barça reduced to 10 men, the momentum swung entirely in Chelsea’s favour.
Chelsea Score Two More to Seal the Victory
In the second half, Barcelona, already struggling, could not withstand Chelsea’s continuous attacks while a man down.
In the 55th minute, a midfield passing error from Barcelona allowed Estêvão to intercept, drive into the box, and fire home to make it 2–0.
In the 73rd minute, Enzo delivered a precise through ball, and Delap finished calmly to secure Chelsea’s 3–0 victory.
Points Drop and Rising Pressure: Barça’s Qualification at Risk
After the final whistle, Chelsea celebrated a convincing 3–0 home win, extending their run to three straight victories and six matches unbeaten across all competitions. They now sit 5th in the standings with 10 points after five games.
Barcelona, on the other hand, dropped from joint-top to 15th place, putting their qualification hopes in serious doubt.
This defeat also extended Barça’s miserable record at Stamford Bridge; they have failed to win in their last five visits (2 draws, three losses), a winless run stretching back 19 years.
For Barcelona, it was a nightmarish Champions League outing marked by an own goal, a red card, and a heavy defeat. Unless they can quickly regain form in the remaining fixtures, their Champions League journey may end earlier than expected.
