MIKEL SEEKS REVENGE AGAINST BARCELONA

Mikel Obi has revealed Chelsea's itch to avenge a Champions League semi-final exit it suffered in the hands of Barcelona three seasons ago.

Barcelona dumped Chelsea at the same stage of the competition in the 2008/09 season on the away goals' rule after they drew 1-1 in a very controversial circumstance in London following a goalless draw at the Camp Nou.

'The Blues' will now host the defending champions on April 18 in another semi-final match-up in the Champions League with the return tie six days later.

'We've met at this stage before and they scaled through. It's our time now to do same against them'. 'Barcelona is a great team, no doubt. It is the best now, but that does not mean it is invincible as it has lost games this season, so we can beat them.

'We just have to win the first leg at home, while keeping a clean sheet and then go to Barcelona to wrap it up. We have top quality players who can make this happen.' Mikel played the full duration in both legs of the quarterfinals against Portugal's Benfica as Chelsea won 3-1 on aggregate after winning its first game in Lisbon 1-0.

'We are relieved to reach the semi-finals as it was not easy to beat a very good Benfica team,' admitted Mikel.

But Stamford Bridge's former boss, Mourinho, now at Real Madrid, that faces Bayern Munich in the other semi-final does not rate his old club's chances. The Special One said: 'Let me be honest, I don't think the final will be Real Madrid against Chelsea.

'It can be Bayern, it can be Barcelona, I just don't think it will be Real Madrid and Chelsea.' Lampard's penalty put the London club 2-0 up on aggregate but Javi Garcia's late effort had the nerves jangling. Raul Meireles made the tie safe in the last minute but Chelsea's place in the last four may have come at a cost.