Chelsea did what very few teams have been able to do, holding Barcelona to a 0-0 draw at the Camp Nou on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League semifinals. The Spanish leader was held scoreless for the first time since a league defeat on the opening weekend of the season. It was the first shutout on home soil since Manchester United drew 0-0 at the same stage of the competition last year. “We're pleased with the result because when you look a the short history of Barcelona and how their results have been and how they've been able to score, it's quite an achievement against a team that plays beautiful football as we saw tonight,” Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink said. Both goalkeepers made key saves to preserve the draw, with Victor Valdes getting his hands up quickly to stop Didier Drogba's shot following a Barcelona defensive lapse in the 39th minute. Drogba jumped on Rafael Marquez's poor backpass for an attempt from inside the area but the Chelsea striker couldn't control the rebound from Valdes, who poked the ball away before the danger was cleared. Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was busier, however, diving to keep Samuel Eto'o's shot out in the 70th after the Barcelona striker had shaken off Alex to get a clear chance from close-range. Cech made several clutch saves down the stretch, the most notable coming on substitute Aleksandr Hleb moments after Bojan Krkic had headed a clear chance from point-blank over goal. The Chelsea goalkeeper rushed out the left side to block Hleb after the late substitute had been able to move into the area for the dangerous opportunity as Barcelona pressed following Eto'o's chance. Eto'o had run into the area before pulling back to shake off Alex, but Cech kept the low shot out at the near side. “They won't be able to play like they did today, just waiting on everything in their own half,” Eto'o said. “Drawing at home is not a bad thing for the team. Playing away in the return leg just means we have to score that away goal that will settle us.” Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola left captain Carles Puyol on the bench and Marquez's defensive error nearly cost the hosts. Drogba's chance – Chelsea's only shot on goal to Barcelona's 12 – seemed to rejuvenate the Blues, who had spent most of the first half holding off the rushes of Barcelona's talented forwards, with Andres Iniesta creating most of the danger. Barcelona held most of the possession – just as it did in big wins over Lyon and Bayern Munich – but Chelsea's defense held well, especially after having allowed five goals in the previous round against Liverpool. Barcelona had a major blow in the 50th when Marquez pulled up with a left knee injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season, making way for Puyol. Barcelona's defense will be short-handed for the return leg at Stamford Bridge on May 6 with Puyol suspended after being booked in the 74th. Arsenal faces Manchester United in the first leg of their semifinal at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
