Chelsea have progressed to the Champions League final after holding off Barcelona in a compelling Champions League encounter.

Early on Lionel Messi exchanged passes with Alexis Sanchez but the ball fell on the Argentinian's weaker right foot and he sliced into Petr Cech's side netting.

Both sides had to make changes at the heart of defence as Gary Cahill and Gerard Pique suffered injuries with Jose Bosingwa and Dani Alves coming on earlier than expected.

Messi was then denied by the feet of Cech after some neat interplay with Cesc Fabregas before Didier Drogba poked wide from a narrow angle with a rare chance for the Blues.

Barca took the lead with 10 minutes of the half remaining when Sergio Busquets tapped home at the back post.

Minutes later Blues captain John Terry was sent off for kneeing Alexis Sanchez in the small of the back.

The home side then went two ahead on the night when Messi found Andres Iniesta who took one touch before rolling past Cech.

There was time for more action before the break as Frank Lampard picked out the racing Ramires, who cleverly dinked over Victor Valdes to score a crucial away goal for the visitors.

Chelsea knew all they had to do was not concede in the second 45 but Barca had the perfect opportunity to go ahead in the tie minutes after the resumption when Drogba brought down Fabregas in the area.

However, Messi smacked his spot kick against the crossbar and Chelsea survived.

The remainder of the game was spent in Chelsea's half as Barca patiently probed for a way through.

Messi hit the woodwork again with 10 minutes remaining after cutting inside onto his left foot before Chelsea somehow got a goal themselves.

As Barca pushed for a winner substitute Fernando Torres was sent free with no defenders in the hosts' half. The Spanish forward kept his composure and rounded Valdes to cap off a remarkable affair.

The Blues will take on either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in next month's final.