Chelsea 2-1 Benfica (agg 3-1) Pre Match Training
Chelsea will face Barcelona after reaching their sixth Champions League semi-final in nine years with victory over Benfica at Stamford Bridge.
Frank Lampard's first-half penalty set the platform for Chelsea's successful defence of the 1-0 lead they established in Lisbon's Stadium of Light.
And though Chelsea had to survive nervous moments in the last five minutes after Javi Garcia's header put Benfica one goal away from winning the tie, a spectacular strike from substitute Raul Meireles in the dying seconds cut short the comeback.
Chelsea's win sets up a repeat of the controversial 2009 semi-final when only Andres Iniesta's stoppage time strike at Stamford Bridge rescued Barcelona and prevented an all-Premier League meeting with Manchester United in Rome.
The Blues' performance here was hardly of the calibre to strike fear into the hearts of the holders and tournament favourites - indeed, for long spells, the fare was decidedly ordinary - but for caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo and his players it was mission accomplished.
Their opponents created chances throughout but simply lacked the cutting edge to capitalise - a task made even more difficult by the first-half dismissal of captain Maxi Pereira after he received a second yellow card for a crude challenge on Jon Obi Mikel.
But while Chelsea may not have touched the heights, their rejuvenation under caretaker Di Matteo continues as they now contemplate another semi-final to go with their FA Cup date with Tottenham at Wembley.
It is a brutal reality, however, that they will have to display infinitely greater quality than this to trouble Pep Guardiola's Catalan superstars as they battle for a place in next month's final in Munich.
The visitors opened with ambition as they chased down the deficit from the first leg in Lisbon, with the gifted Pablo Aimar prominent.
The early momentum was halted, however, by the concession of a needless penalty after 21 minutes when Garcia barged Ashley Cole to the ground. Keeper Ar
Frank Lampard's first-half penalty set the platform for Chelsea's successful defence of the 1-0 lead they established in Lisbon's Stadium of Light.
And though Chelsea had to survive nervous moments in the last five minutes after Javi Garcia's header put Benfica one goal away from winning the tie, a spectacular strike from substitute Raul Meireles in the dying seconds cut short the comeback.
Chelsea's win sets up a repeat of the controversial 2009 semi-final when only Andres Iniesta's stoppage time strike at Stamford Bridge rescued Barcelona and prevented an all-Premier League meeting with Manchester United in Rome.
The Blues' performance here was hardly of the calibre to strike fear into the hearts of the holders and tournament favourites - indeed, for long spells, the fare was decidedly ordinary - but for caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo and his players it was mission accomplished.
Their opponents created chances throughout but simply lacked the cutting edge to capitalise - a task made even more difficult by the first-half dismissal of captain Maxi Pereira after he received a second yellow card for a crude challenge on Jon Obi Mikel.
But while Chelsea may not have touched the heights, their rejuvenation under caretaker Di Matteo continues as they now contemplate another semi-final to go with their FA Cup date with Tottenham at Wembley.
It is a brutal reality, however, that they will have to display infinitely greater quality than this to trouble Pep Guardiola's Catalan superstars as they battle for a place in next month's final in Munich.
The visitors opened with ambition as they chased down the deficit from the first leg in Lisbon, with the gifted Pablo Aimar prominent.
The early momentum was halted, however, by the concession of a needless penalty after 21 minutes when Garcia barged Ashley Cole to the ground. Keeper Ar
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