• Champions League

Blues have unfinished business against Barca - Lampard

Frank Lampard scored from the penalty spot to help Chelsea beat Benfica 2-1 at Stamford Bridge © Getty Images

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Relief was the overwhelming emotion for Frank Lampard as Chelsea edged past 10-man Benfica to set up a Champions League semi-final showdown with Barcelona.

Lampard scored from the spot after Javi Garcia had brought Ashley Cole to put his side 2-0 up on aggregate, but Benfica ensured a tense finish when Garcia nodded home from close range on 85 minutes.

Raul Meireles scored in stoppage time to finally seal Chelsea's place in the last four, where they will face the defending European champions, but Lampard conceded the Blues had made hard work of their progression.

"Yeah, it was a tough game,'' Lampard told ITV1. "Winning 1-0 away leaves you in a bit of a conundrum how to approach the game. We gave them an idea they could come and win the game.

"We didn't want to go too gung ho but we created enough chances tonight in the second half. We are pleased to be in the semis.''

Asked if Chelsea have some unfinished business against Barcelona after previous controversial clashes, most notably the semi-final of 2009, Lampard added: "Everyone has unfinished business with them.

"They are the greatest team in the world. They are going to be favourites but we have a lot of belief in ourselves. We have to perform at our best to beat them and we believe we can do that.''

Chelsea interim boss Roberto Di Matteo added: "We knew before the game we were going to face a difficult game tonight and it proved that.

"Benfica are a good side, but we are pleased we are in the semi-final now. The second goal was missing to kill the game. With a 1-0 lead they still had a chance and they knew that. We missed a lot of chances to kill the game.''

Asked about facing Barcelona in the last four, Di Matteo added: "Let me enjoy this first of all. We play Wigan on Saturday and we have to focus on that first.

"They [Barcelona] are probably one of the best teams in the world, if not the best. We are excited to be able to play a semi-final against a big team.''

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