Five classic games between Chelsea and Barcelona | OneFootball

Chelsea face Barcelona tonight in the pick of Tuesday’s ties in the UEFA Champions League.

It’s an encounter that has become a modern European classic, with no shortage of memorable meetings between the sides. Ahead of their latest at Stamford Bridge, we’ve remembered five classic contests between Chelsea and Barcelona

Five of the best games between Chelsea and Barcelona

Barcelona 5-0 Chelsea – Inter-Cities Fairs Cup semi-final (1966)

In the 1965/66 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Chelsea’s semi-final tie with Barcelona needed a playoff after ending 2-2 on aggregate after two legs.

Both sides had won their home fixture 2-0, though the momentum appeared to be with Tommy Docherty’s Chelsea side after second-leg success. Own goals from Miguel Reina and Gallego had condemned the Spaniards to defeat in that fixture, but Barcelona turned on the style in the third meeting.

Having won a coin toss to play at home, Barcelona scored five unanswered goals on a miserable night for Chelsea, whose hopes of a first-ever European trophy were ended at Camp Nou. Barcelona matched on, claiming their third Inter-Cities crown.

Barcelona 5-1 Chelsea – Champions League quarter-final (2000)

Chelsea qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 1999/2000 and progressed to a quarter-final tie with Barcelona. In an unforgettable first leg, three goals in eight first-half minutes saw Barcelona blitzed at Stamford Bridge. Gianfranco Zola and a Tore Andre Flo brace saw Chelsea head to Catalonia with a 3-1 lead, but the Spaniards staged a stunning fightback to reach the last four.

After Rivaldo and Luis Figo had wiped out the deficit, a response from Flo had Chelsea leading 4-3 on aggregate with just seven minutes to go. Dani levelled on the night, before Rivaldo’s missed penalty for Barcelona sent the tie into extra time.

The momentum swung when Celestine Babayaro was sent off for Chelsea, conceding a penalty after bundling over Figo. Rivaldo atoned for his earlier miss to convert from the spot. Patrick Kluivert’s header wrapped up the win for the home side.

Chelsea 4-2 Barcelona – Champions League last-16 (2005)

Chelsea came from behind to beat Barcelona and reach the Champions League quarter-finals in 2005.

The Blues trailed 2-1 on aggregate after losing the first leg, but scored three goals inside 19 minutes of the return to race into the lead.

Eidur Gudjohnsen, Frank Lampard and Damien Duff all scored in a quick-fire start, but the brilliance of Barcelona midfielder Ronaldinho saw the Spaniards hit back. After converting a penalty, the Brazilian scored a sublime second, a glorious toe-poke from the edge of the area that left Petr Cech helpless.

Chelsea needed to score again and found a winner 75 minutes from time. John Terry powered home a header from Duff’s corner to send Stamford Bridge wild.

Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona – Champions League semi-final (2009)

“It’s a disgrace’ Didier Drogba bellowed down the TV cameras, a full-time tirade that earned the Ivorian a six-game ban. Jose Bosingwa also received a suspension for similarly remonstrating with referee Tom Ovrebo.

Chelsea vs Barcelona in the 2009 Champions League semi-final was incident-packed and dramatic, though the man in the middle came under fire at the final whistle.

Chelsea opened the scoring through Michael Essien’s spectacular striker, as the midfielder thumped in a volley that was within seconds of sending Chelsea to the final.

In between Essien’s golazo and the last-gasp Andres Iniesta equaliser that sent Barcelona through on away goals, were refereeing decisions that left Chelsea furious.

Ovrebo did send off Barcelona defender Eric Abidal on 66 minutes, but his decisions to wave away penalty appeals from Florent Malouda, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Michael Ballack left Chelsea exasperated. All could rightly feel aggrieved.

At full-time, the Chelsea players capitulated with Drogba – substituted off injured – storming back onto the pitch to confront the official and express his disgust.

It’s a game few will forget in a hurry.

Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea – Champions League semi-final (2012)

Chelsea exacted revenge on Barcelona to reach a first-ever Champions League final three years later.

Didier Drogba’s goal handed Chelsea a first-leg lead, one that would be protected only after a chaotic return in Catalonia. In a nightmare start, the Blues looked in real trouble after Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta turned the tie around, either side of John Terry’s red card on 37 minutes.

Then, in first-half stoppage time, a lifeline. Ramires strode forward to chip in a goal that put the 10-man visitors ahead on away goals.

Lionel Messi’s missed penalty just minutes after the restart saw Chelsea escape again, and backs-to-the-wall defending followed.

When Fernando Torres raced clear to score a late second for the Blues on the break, their progress was confirmed.

Even Gary Neville got carried away… and the goalgasm was born.

Read – Six infamous bust-ups between teammates

See more – Fewest points after 12 games by defending Premier League champions

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