Puyol fears Chelsea could repeat 2012 triumph

Carles Puyol fears Chelsea could emulate their 2012 Champions League triumph against Barcelona in tonight’s last-16 clash between the two clubs.

The home side will start the second leg as favourites, having drawn 1-1 with the Blues in the first leg at Stamford Bridge.

However, former Spain defender Puyol was part of the Barca side which also started a semi-final second leg in a strong position in 2012, but lost in dramatic fashion.

Chelsea, who went on to win the trophy, were 1-0 up from the home leg and drew 2-2 at the Nou Camp to go through.

And Puyol has warned that the current Chelsea side are also capable of pulling off the victory.

“The difference is that we lost 1-0 in London so we had to win,” said Puyol, who was speaking in his role as an ambassador for Laureus.

“After the first leg I think Barcelona are the favourites but you can’t be sure. Chelsea have shown that they are a very organised team with clear ideas about how they want to play and players up front who are very dangerous and very quick.

“They can hurt you a lot on the counter-attack so Barcelona will have to put in a serious performance and try to score a goal because if they don’t Chelsea could hurt them on the counter.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea star Willian says his team need to play the “perfect game” in order to go through.

Barca’s away goal means the visitors must score tonight to have any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.