The Blues battered lesser opposition at Stamford Bridge on a perfect night with the Catalan giants next in town with the return of European football
Chelsea may have secured their place in the quarter finals of the FA Cup with an emphatic 4-0 win over Hull City on Friday, but the real prize was that the match served as a perfect exhibition ahead of their encounter with Barcelona in the Champions League.
Antonio Conte had one eye on Tuesday's last-16 tie against the Catalan side as he rested Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Thibaut Courtois and N'Golo Kante for the clash at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, those who did play needed the minutes as they returned from injury or a lack of match action.
Willian and Olivier Giroud started as they came back from hamstring injuries, while Alvaro Morata came off the bench as he builds up match fitness from his lay off with a back problem and will likely start against Barca on Tuesday night.
Emerson Palmieiri made an impressive debut considering he has been out for six months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, having only made one start and one substitute appearance for Roma since getting fit again.
Hull City were always going to struggle with 10 or so first team players out to suspension or injury and their three Chelsea loanees in Ola Aina, Michael Hector and Fikayo Tomori were ineligible.
The rested players will likely return for the midweek game but there are places up for grabs in the remaining positions. Danny Drinkwater is in contention to start, with Tiemoue Bakayoko out injured and Conte considering making it a three man midfield against the Spanish league leaders.
Ethan Ampadu, 17, made his seventh appearance for the club and it was the seventh time since his summer move from minnows Exeter City that he has proved he is good enough to start games for his club.
Pedro was given a rest when he was replaced at half time to allow Callum Hudson-Odoi, one of most talented academy graduates, to get a run out, and Kyle Scott also made his debut after making several matchday squads and not getting on this season.
Against lesser opposition, Chelsea discovered a Barcelona-like swagger that completely tore apart a depleted Hull side. Willian's first goal was a thing of beauty as he swivelled, feinted and curled a finish in on his weaker left foot.
