THE BEST team in Europe, and probably the best in the world.

Barcelona have certainly been playing like they are the best in the world, and don't just take The New Paper's or this humble writer's word for it.

Even World Cup winners are falling over in praise of this brilliant Barcelona side.

After a brave 1-1 Champions League quarter-final second-leg draw in Munich, in which the home side often got the better of Barcelona, Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann still admitted Barca were on a different level.

'At the end I was satisfied with the way we played Barcelona. We went out to a team that is one class above us, probably the best in the world,' gushed the former World Cup winner.

It is not hard to see why Klinsmann would hold them in such high regard, after his side was royally spanked 4-0 in the first half of their first-leg encounter.

And while some might think that the best team in Europe will be from England, Real Madrid TV commentator Duncan McMath believes otherwise.

Attacking football

'In Spain there is no one who doubts that Barca are the best side in Europe,' McMath said. ' They play a style of attacking football that no team can get close to... not even Manchester United.'

And Barcelona have displayed plenty of that style in La Liga this season, sweeping all before them including hated rivals Real Madrid.

'People say that when Madrid are at their best they are not even as good as Barca at their worst,' exclaimed McMath. 'Madrid are battling through games and grinding out results, whereas Barca are gliding through games and winning easily.'

Despite this, there were still reservations in Spain if the Blaugrana could transfer their Primera Liga form onto European stage.

That is until last week's result against Bayern.

'The one question mark was whether or not Barca could carry their league form into Europe and that 4-0 demolition of Bayern at the Nou Camp proved that they most certainly could,' McMath said. 'I think they are, or should be, favourites by a mile.'

And next up will be a Chelsea side that is suddenly finding itself with a porous defence.

After conceding three goals in their 4-3 win over Bolton on Saturday, Chelsea conceded another four goals against Liverpool yesterday morning.

Too good

And McMath has no doubt that Barcelona will make short work of the Blues.

'Barca have too much in attack,' McMath said. 'Chelsea conceded four yesterday with Dirk Kuyt, an off-form Fernando Torres, and Yossi Benayoun in attack. How many are they going to concede against Eto'o, Iniesta, Henry and Messi? Chelsea are strong, but Barca are just too good.'

In fact, many Barca fans in Spain feared Liverpool more than the Blues, especially after how the Reds eliminated Real Madrid in the last round.

However, McMath believes that Chelsea still have a slim chance of halting the big Barca machine.

'Chelsea need to get an early goal, pack the midfield and put a man on (Lionel) Messi,' he said.

'Xavi will have to be closed down quickly, they'll have to keep an eye of Iniesta's movement around the edge of the box, Henry's pace and Dani Alves darting down the right.

'If they can get at Barca from the off, crowd them out, score an early goal and generally frustrate them, then they could be in with a chance.

'But, seriously, I doubt it.'