4 reasons why Chelsea will beat Barcelona in the Champions League

#1 Chelsea's strong areas

Containing Eden Hazard will be a challenge for Barcelona

Chelsea have been under fire this season, but that doesn't mean they cannot exploit Barcelona's weaknesses. The Catalans have been weak in the air - exactly the area in which Chelsea have been top-notch this season.

Alvaro Morata might be off colour, but the Spaniard has been the second best in Premier League when it comes to converting aerial chances into goals. As of January, the striker has scored 6 goals from 19 headed attempts, notching a conversion rate of 31.6%.

Another factor that will seriously affect Barcelona's chances are their weaknesses in the middle of the park. The Catalans fall behind Chelsea's midfielders when it comes to creating chances. In La Liga, the trio of Busquets, Iniesta and Rakitic have created 070, 0.78 and 1.05 chances per game respectively. In contrast, the duo of Kante and Fabregas have created 1.33 and 2.91 chances per game.

Containing Eden Hazard will also be a tough challenge for Pique and Co. in the game. The Belgian has been in superb form and will be a cause of concern for Valverde since he will be playing against Barca's weaker right flank.

As they did against Manchester United, a high pressing game could help Chelsea in neutralizing Barcelona's threat. The midfield battle will definitely hold a great deal of importance in the outcome of the clash.