Sour taste on night of rows

"There was a lot of talking before the game," said Rijkaard. "And now Chelsea are creating rumours. I'm curious about what they will declare in their report to UEFA."

Mourinho and the Premiership leaders refused to talk to the media before flying home last night. Why they snubbed the Press in this way is unclear. Under Champions League rules, competing managers must talk to the media after each match. UEFA will want to know why Mourinho refused to honour this commitment. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the incident, the aftermath of an exciting match left a sour taste and is sure to linger during the build-up to the return leg at Stamford Bridge.

For more than an hour it looked as though Chelsea might become the first English club since Liverpool-in 1976 to secure a victory in the Nou Camp.

A capacity crowd of 89,000 was growing increasingly edgy as the Spanish League leaders repeatedly squandered their possession in and around the Chelsea penalty area. Barcelona dominated the game - they had 68 per cent of the possession - but they rarely got past John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho. And, when they did, they found Petr Cech at his most defiant.

Chelsea didn't have a shot on target, but Mourinho's game plan worked a treat. It may not be pretty to watch but it's effective. They defended in depth, relying on the occasional counter-attack to ease the pressure. In the 33rd minute a long pass from Frank Lampard sent Damien Duff scurrying forward. Duff, remember, was one of those we were told would not be playing by Mourinho.

He showed no sign of illness or injury as he outpaced Gio van Bronckhorst and crossed the ball to Joe Cole who was running into the penalty area. But full-back Juliano Belletti turned the ball into his own net as he tried to cut out the cross.

Chelsea could hardly believe their good fortune. Rijkaard complained bitterly to the fourth official, believing perhaps that Duff had been offside. The second-half started much as the first had finished, with Chelsea defending doggedly while Drogba occasionally lifted the pressure with his forward forays.

But his challenge for a 50-50 ball with goalkeeper Victor Valdes was interpreted as dangerous play by the referee. Already cautioned, Drogba was sent off.

"Playing against 10 men we decided it was time to reorganise," said Rijkaard, who proceeded to make three substitutions.

Maxi Lopez came on in the 64th minute and, within three minutes, had equalised, finishing off good work by Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o.

Then in the 73rd minute the longhaired Lopez hit a speculative shot into the Chelsea area. It was off target but Eto'o saw an opportunity, squeezed between Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira and side footed a low shot beyond Cech.

To be truthful, Barcelona had further chances to increase their lead but they couldn't get past Cech.

The fact that they had 34 shots, against Chelsea's two, tells you the story of the match.

In such circumstances Chelsea can console themselves with the thought that a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge will put them into the quarter-finals a target that is well within their reach.