Gerard Pique warns Barcelona of Chelsea's attacking threat

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has urged his teammates to be wary of the threat possessed by Chelsea despite their mixed performances since the turn of the year. The Blues ended a run of back-to-back defeats with victories over West Bromwich Albion and Hull City, and Pique is not taking the game likely with no wins in their previous seven meetings with the Capital outfit.

In a report covered by Four Four Two, Pique admitted that the Catalans have high expectations on their head, and though they go as favourites for the Champions League tie, a poor result against the Blues could turn their worse into one which is not so good.

He said: "Expectations are maximum. We go out as favourites, with a chance to win. I know the atmosphere is positive, very favourable, everything looks good, but I think we have to be more prudent. A bad result against Chelsea could turn the good season we are having into one that's not so good. We know we are in a good position in the league and the Copa del Rey and we go to London in the Champions League looking to win, get through and progress in the competition."

Barcelona are already in pole position to secure the La Liga crown ahead of holders Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid and they could potentially seal the double with a Copa del Rey win over Sevilla at the Wanda Metropolitano in April.

The Champions League has eluded them in recent seasons owing to their setbacks in the quarter-final stage of the competition, and they will be hoping to make better progress this time around, provided they can find a way past Chelsea across two legs in the round of 16.

Barcelona are presently holding a seven-point lead over Atletico Madrid at the top of the La Liga standings. Chelsea, on the other side, are positioned fourth in the Premier League with a slender one-point advantage over fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.