Champions League 2.25 billion grudge battle at 4 a.m.: Barcelona’s trident unites to defend the glory of La Liga

At 4 a.m. on November 26, in the fifth round of the UEFA Champions League, Chelsea vs. Barcelona. Raphinha returns, Barcelona's strongest trident unites. The Champions League battles between the two teams can always create classics. What kind of plot will this 2.25 billion euro showdown play out?

[Confrontation History]

In the history of the Champions League, the two teams have met 14 times, with each side winning 4 times and drawing 6 times. In the 1/8 finals of the Champions League in the 2017-18 season, Barcelona 1-1 away, 3-0 at home, and eliminated Chelsea 4-1 in two rounds.

[Rafite returns, Barcelona's strongest trident returns]

In Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao, Rafinha returned from injury and came on as a substitute for 9 minutes. After 58 days of recuperation, Rafinha finally returned. In the 2025-26 season, Rafinha played 8 times in the Champions League and La Liga, contributing 3 goals and 2 assists.

Rafinha is one of Barcelona's most important players. Not only can he score goals, assist, and suppress the opponent's defense, he can also actively participate in defense and work diligently. With Raphinha's comeback, Barcelona can offer the strongest trident: Yamal, Lewandowski, and Raphinha.

【UEFA Champions League 2.25 billion battle! Grudge showdown]

According to the German transfer valuation, the Chelsea team is worth a total of 1.14 billion euros, the Barcelona team is worth a total of 1.11 billion euros, and this Champions League battle is worth 2.25 billion! Barcelona has Yamal, who is worth 200 million, and Chelsea also has a popular 18-year-old youngster: "Mesinho" Esteban.

When it comes to Chelsea vs. Barcelona, fans will definitely think of many classics:

In the 1/8 finals of the UEFA Champions League in the 2004-05 season, Chelsea lost 1-2 away and reversed 4-2 at home. Mourinho was very proud; a year later, the two teams met again In the encounter, Barcelona avenged 3-2; then in the 2008-09 Champions League semi-finals, Iniesta's shocking goal and the penalty that caused huge controversy; in the 2011-12 Champions League semi-finals, Di Matteo led Chelsea to avenge Barcelona...

[9 losses in 10 games against Premier League teams! Can Barcelona defend the glory of La Liga?

OPTA data shows that in the last 10 English-Spanish duels in the Champions League, the Premier League team won 9 games, while the La Liga team only won 1: In the Champions League in September, Barcelona defeated Newcastle 2-1. In the last four English-Spanish matchups in the Champions League, the Premier League beat La Liga 4 times in a row without conceding a single goal: Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid, Manchester City 2-0 Villarreal, Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid, Newcastle United 2-0 Athletic Bilbao. In this Champions League, can Barcelona regain a victory for La Liga?

[Estimated starting]

Chelsea (4231): Robert Sanchez/Reece James, Achampong, Adarabioyu, Cucurella/Enzo, Caicedo/Neto, If Ang-Pedro, Ganaccio/Gio

Barcelona (433): Szczesny/Konde, Araujo, Cubas, Balde/Fermin, De Jong, Olmo/Hamal, Lewandowski, Rafinha