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Two European giants clash in the fifth round of Champions League play as Barcelona visit Chelsea as league-phase play continues.

Both sides sit neck-and-neck in the table, level on seven points as they are 11th and 12th in the standings respectively. They are both on course to qualify for the knockout stage with room to spare, but both sit outside the all-important top eight, which would potentially earn them a playoff-round bye.

Barcelona have closed the gap with Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga table, trailing by just a point after beating Athletic Club over the weekend in their return to the Camp Nou.

The Blues have also positioned themselves well domestically, as a three-match winning streak saw them elevated to second in the Premier League standings after Manchester City slipped over the weekend.

The Sporting News is following the Chelsea vs. Barcelona match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.

Chelsea vs. Barcelona score

Location: Stamford Bridge (London, England)
Referee: Slavko Vincic (SLV)

Starting lineups:

Chelsea (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Sanchez (GK) — 27. Gusto, 29. Fofana, 23. Chalobah, 3. Cucurella — 24. James, 25. Caicedo — 41. Estevao, 8. E. Fernandez, 49. Garnacho — 7. Neto.

Barcelona (4-2-3-1, right to left): 13. Garcia (GK) — 23. Kounde, 5. Cubarsi, 4. Araujo, 3. Balde — 21. De Jong, 24. E. Garcia — 10. Lamine Yamal, 16. F. Lopez, 7. F. Torres — 9. Lewandowski.

Chelsea vs. Barcelona live updates, highlights from Champions League match

45 minutes to kick: It’s quite interesting that after a summer of spending big money on both Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, head coach Enzo Maresca has gone with Pedro Neto at the No. 9 position. Neto has been one of the few constants in Maresca’s lineup throughout his coaching tenure, which has largely been defined by excessive rotation.

1 hour to kickoff: These two teams have met 14 times previously, and they’ve had a perfectly even split of wins, draws, and losses! Who will take the series lead today?

Chelsea and Barca are EVEN in their all-time match-ups 😅

We are in for a treat 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Ufb8RDV81F

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 25, 2025

1 hour 15 mins to kick: Lineups are in! Estevao starts for Chelsea, with Pedro Neto taking over at the No. 9 position.

For Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski starts at the No. 9, while Frenkie de Jong returns to the XI after being suspended over the weekend.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: There’s a fox loose in Stamford Bridge!

Anyone call for a fox in the box? 🦊📦

There’s a fox loose at Stamford Bridge ahead of Chelsea v Barcelona! 😅 pic.twitter.com/PrXMBiRXcU

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) November 25, 2025

2 hours to kickoff: Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca waxed lyrical about his opponent ahead of this match, calling Barcelona “one of the best clubs in the world” and saying he got into management because of the Catalan side.

🚨🗣️ Enzo Maresca: “I decided to be a manager because of Pep’s Barcelona.”

“I don’t think no one can be compared to that Barcelona and Pep. I think they changed football in Spain, every club was trying to play that way.”

“And then Pep moved to Germany and everyone was trying… pic.twitter.com/yAYLeMqsny

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) November 24, 2025

Chelsea vs. Barcelona kick off time

This Champions League match kicks off from Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, November 25 at 8 p.m. local time in London, England. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:

Champions League league phase standings

Chelsea vs. Barcelona lineups, team news

Reece James was substituted at halftime against Burnley, but Maresca confirmed this change was pre-planned and not a return of the captain’s injury woes. James could start in midfield alongside Moises Caicedo, with Malo Gusto at right-back.

Wesley Fofana will return to the matchday squad after being omitted as a precaution, but Tosin Adarabiyo could keep his place after impressing at the weekend.

Maresca has an enviable array of options in attack and must decide whether to start Estevao and set off a mouthwatering face-off with Barcelona’s teenage superstar Lamine Yamal​​​​​​.

Chelsea starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez (GK) — Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella — James, Caicedo — Estevao, E. Fernandez, Garnacho — Neto.

Chelsea subs: Jorgensen (GK), Badiashile, Hato, Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Santos, Buonanotte, Gittens, George, Delap, Guiu, Pedro.

Marcus Rashford missed the weekend win over Athletic Club with an illness, and his health will be monitored ahead of this game with a quick turnaround leaving his status in jeopardy.

Raphinha returned on Saturday after missing two months with a hamstring problem, seeing nine minutes off the bench, and it’s unlikely he will be ready for 90 minutes just yet. Despite missing international duty this month treatment on his chronic pubalgia, Lamine Yamal is available.

The Barcelona midfield is thin. Marc Casado was only available off the bench on Saturday, and Pedri missed out due to a minor issue that has seen him train on his own this week. Frenkie de Jong will return after being suspended for a red card on the weekend in league play. 

In goal, Joan Garcia is back to full fitness, replacing Wojciech Szczesny in net.

Barcelona starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Garcia (GK) — Kounde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Balde — De Jong, E. Garcia — Lamine Yamal, F. Lopez, F. Torres — Lewandowski.

Barcelona subs: Kochen (GK), Szczesny (GK), Christensen, Martin, D. Fernandez, Bernal, Casado, Olmo, Rashford, Raphinha, Bardghji.

Chelsea vs. Barcelona live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions: