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Results Based News

Stubborn Blues hold Barca

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 29/04/2009

Chelsea produced a disciplined performance to hold online betting favourites Barcelona to a goalless draw in a tight Champions League semi-final first leg clash at the Camp Nou.

In a game of few chances Didier Drogba went closest to scoring for the Blues when he was denied by Victor Valdes while at the other end, Bojan Krkic contrived to head over a gaping goal in stoppage time.

Petr Cech was also forced to keep a Samuel Eto'o shot out but Barca rarely threatened to break the deadlock as the two teams met in the Champions League for the fourth time in five years.

There were very few chances in the opening quarter of the game as Barcelona, despite passing the ball well, were unable to open up a Chelsea side that were holding their shape and defending well.

In the 34th minute Cech was forced to make the first save of the game, getting down well to keep Thierry Henry's powerful low drive out.

Chelsea's best opportunity came five minutes before half-time when a superb double save by Valdes kept the scores level.

Drogba latched on to Rafael Marquez's under-hit back-pass, but the Barca keeper parried the striker's powerful shot. The Ivory Coast international then tried to dink the rebound over Valdes who leapt high to keep the ball out.

The start to the second half was a stop-start affair although, immediately after the restart, Michael Ballack headed Drogba's clipped free-kick just over the bar.

As Barca stepped up the pace after the hour mark Cech was forced to parry Daniel Alves' powerful drive before the Brazilian's free-kick beat the wall but was just too high and landed on the top of Cech's net.

With 20 minutes left Eto'o burst clear from the halfway line and held off challenges from John Terry and Alex only for Cech to deflect the Cameroon international's shot away for a corner.

Barcelona created their best opening in stoppage time when Bojan headed the ball over the bar from virtually underneath the crossbar and there was still time for another late substitute, Alex Hleb, to be denied by Cech.

Play at tennis' Rome Masters was curtailed by rain on Tuesday, but Novak Djokovic managed to dodge the showers to reach round three with a straight sets win over Albert Montanes.

In cricket's IPL, reigning champions the Rajasthan Royals registered a five-wicket win over the Delhi Daredevils.

Delhi made 143-7 from their 20 overs and looked set for victory until Yusuf Pathan blasted six sixes and three fours in making 62 not out from a mere 30 balls faced.

That meant the Royals squeezed home with nine balls to spare at Centurion.

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