Chelsea vs Barcelona | Football Preview & Betting Tips | 25 November 2025

Both sides are flying right now and this one feels massive for momentum in the new format. Chelsea have turned Stamford Bridge into a fortress again, while Barcelona arrive scoring for fun and looking dangerous on the break. Expect Enzo Maresca to stick with his 4-2-3-1 that’s brought so much control, pressing high and using the width well. Hansi Flick has Barcelona playing fast, vertical football in a 4-3-3, happy to dominate the ball and explode forward. Injury news is fairly light — Chelsea are without Wesley Fofana long-term and Reece James is still available but fitness to last 90 minutes at the top level is debatable, while Barcelona miss Gavi and have doubts over Ferran Torres.

• Ball domination: Barcelona average 65% possession and love building from the back, whereas Chelsea are happy sitting around 60% and hitting teams on transitions.
• Chance quality: Barcelona create 2.20 xG per game and restrict opponents to just 0.90; Chelsea are close behind at 1.80 for and 1.00 against — this should be tight.
• Set-piece threat: Both sides love a dead-ball goal — Chelsea score 0.40 and Barcelona 0.50 per game on average, so corners and free-kicks could decide it.

Chelsea last 10: 8 wins, 2 draws, no defeats — 20 goals scored, just 8 conceded and five clean sheets. They’ve been ruthless at home and look a different animal this season.

Barcelona last 10: 8 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat — 28 goals scored, 9 conceded with four clean sheets. Only the Clasico loss blots the copybook; otherwise they’re banging them in.

Chelsea at home (last 5): 100% win rate, averaging 2.8 goals scored and 0.4 conceded, four clean sheets. They’ve been brutal at the Bridge.

Barcelona away (last 5): 60% win rate, 2.4 scored and 1.2 conceded. Still strong but not quite as watertight on the road.

Barcelona score more, but Chelsea’s defence has been the tighter unit recently.

Barcelona create the better chances on average (2.20 xG) and face slightly fewer (0.90 xGA) than Chelsea’s 1.80 / 1.00 — but it’s razor close.

Five meetings in the Champions League proper. Most recent was 2018 — Barcelona won 2-1 at the Bridge then 3-0 at home. Before that, 2012 saw Chelsea famously knock them out: 1-0 home, 2-2 away (aggregate 3-2). Chelsea also won both legs in 2006 (1-0 and 2-1). Overall it’s 3 wins Chelsea, 1 Barcelona, 1 draw — but Barcelona have the edge in the last decade.

Two attacking sides who can both defend when they need to. Stamford Bridge is rocking, Chelsea are unbeaten in ten and love a big European night, while Barcelona have the extra flair up top. We see goals but the home crowd just tips it.

Prediction: 2-1 Chelsea

Main pick: Chelsea or Draw (Double Chance) — unbeatable at home this season and a terrible price to oppose outright.

Value angle: Over 2.5 Goals — Barcelona see 70% of games over, Chelsea 55%, and both love attacking football.