Essien Targets Barcelona Scalp

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has claimed that Barcelona is 'definitely beatable', and feels the club's time has come to win the Champions League for the first time.

The west Londoners host the Spanish champions in the first leg of the semifinals of Europe's premier club competition on April 18, and the Ghanaian international believes the Blues can defeat Pep Guardiola's side.

'We have played them a few times in the last eight years or so and they are definitely beatable, the 29-year-old said on his official personal website. 'I have a feeling it's our time to get one over on them.'

Essien then relived the last time Chelsea took on Barca, a 1-1 draw in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals in 2009 which saw the Catalans advance on the away-goal rule after Andres Iniesta's 92nd minute goal.

'The last time we played them it was full of drama and had some superb football,' he stated.

'That game had everything, including a couple of great goals; we had them where we wanted them, but failed to finish them off and paid the price.' —goal.com