( CNN ) -- Smarting from their first back-to-back defeats in nearly three years , Barcelona are on the defensive for a change as they approach Tuesday 's Champions League semifinal second leg against Chelsea . Barcelona all but surrendered the Spanish league title with Saturday 's 2-1 home loss to Real Madrid that came days after a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in the first leg . Barca defender Gerard Pique strongly rejected any suggestion that his club might be in the midst of a more deep-seated crisis , and that the losses could signal the beginning of the end of a glittering era . `` A team that has won 13 trophies in three and a half years deserves more credit than that , '' he said . `` Other teams need to win more championships before we start talking like that . We deserve respect . '' Coach Pep Guardiola was equally bullish in his news conference before the match , even swearing as he defended his decision to play the inexperienced Cristian Tello against Madrid . Guardiola has seen his side dominate possession against both Chelsea and Madrid yet struggle to find a way to goal , with Lionel Messi failing to add to his 63 goals for the season . `` I do n't know if this is the most important moment of my career as a coach , '' Guardiola said of the Chelsea game . `` But I have always faced these challenges with a lot of optimism as I believe in my players and team . '' Madrid now lead the Spanish league by seven points with four games remaining , with midfielder Xavi conceding that a fourth straight title `` is practically impossible . '' But Barcelona could still end the season as winners of the Champions League and Copa del Rey . The Catalans have already won the Club World Cup , the European Supercup and the Spanish Supercup . `` We 'll keep fighting , because we know that it 's still in our own hands to have a good season , '' Xavi said on Barcelona 's official website . Chelsea have n't lost in six meetings with Barcelona and won the home leg thanks to a determined defensive display and a Didier Drogba goal just before half time . Guardiola has the option of restoring Pique to his starting lineup to combat Drogba 's strength , having sprung a surprise by leaving the Spain international out of both the first leg and the game against Madrid . Pique said he is n't taking it personally . `` For me , the important issue is n't whether I play tomorrow , '' he said . `` For me , the main thing is that we win and reach the final . `` It is a new situation for me because I 'm used to playing and in the last matches I have not had a chance to play . But it 's a technical decision of the manager and I have to respect that . '' Barcelona go into Tuesday 's match having won their last 15 home matches in the Champions League . Chelsea , meanwhile , have only won once on the road in Europe this season . But Chelsea have found a unity under interim coach Roberto di Matteo that seemed to be lacking under previous manager Andre Villas Boas , and they are unbeaten in 13 of 14 matches since the Italian took charge . `` His message is clearly aimed at team spirit -- fighting , '' Chelsea striker Fernando Torres told the UEFA website . `` You have to fight and then your talent will come through afterwards . When all of that comes together , you 'll overcome your opponent most of the time . '' That was never more evident than in Chelsea 's first leg performance . Barcelona had 72 % of the possession and six shots on target . Chelsea had one -- Drogba 's goal . `` Many teams who play Barcelona think that you have to steal the ball from them , but I do n't think that 's possible , '' Torres said . `` You have to use different weapons against them . If you want to steal the ball , you wo n't manage it and you 'll get tired , and then create more space for your opponent . '' Barcelona 's last Champions League exit in 2010 came in the semifinal at the hands of Jose Mourinho 's Inter Milan side , which won the first leg 3-1 before producing an ultra-defensive display at the Camp Nou to win 3-2 on aggregate . But Di Matteo said he wo n't send his side out to play for a goalless draw . `` The tie is half time , it 's 50-50 . Both teams still have the same chance to go through , '' he said . `` I do think we will have to try to score . ''
Barcelona head into Champions League semifinal second leg against Chelsea trailing 1-0 . Pep Guardiola 's team have lost back-to-back matches for the first time since May 2009 . TL;DR Lionel Messi scored twice as Barca beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 in La Liga on Saturday. Chelsea coach Roberto di Matteo insists his team will try to score .