Barcelona legend Carles Puyol has claimed that the Blues have been missing striker Alvaro Morata in the build up to their Champions League last-16 clash against the Spanish giants at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night.

After arriving at Stamford Bridge last summer from Real Madrid, Morata initially looked good and was finding it easy to score goals.

However, his form has dropped since the start of 2018 and this has not been helped by a suspension and back problems.

Morata will be hoping to play when the Blues take on Barcelona in their do-or-die match against the Catalan giants and Puyol believes that Antonio Conte's side will pay if they do not play the Spanish forward.

"I think he's a very good player, he has scored goals," Puyol told Sky Sports.

"He has had back problems but he is a dangerous player.

"He is powerful. He could do damage to Barcelona.

"I don't know what his physical condition is - whether he is at 100 per cent - but he is an important player and Chelsea are missing him."