Once upon a time, Chelsea vs Barcelona was a true international rivalry. With fires stoked by former manager Jose Mourinho, the Blues and the Blaugrana met in three consecutive UEFA Champions League seasons between 2004/05 and 2006/07, with hostilities going on to be renewed in 2008/09 and 2011/12. They would meet again in the 2017/18 Round of 16, with the Catalonians coming out on top. Now, seven years later, the two will do battle once again.
Enzo Maresca’s Blues find themselves somewhat behind their Spanish counterparts in this season’s UCL betting charts. The latest odds from popular online sports betting sites currently make Barca a 9/1 contender, with their odds lengthening in recent weeks following a 2-1 home defeat to an injury-hit Paris Saint-Germain, coupled with a disappointing 3-3 draw away at Belgian outfit Club Brugge. Chelsea, meanwhile, are out at 25/1, with their odds also drifting after a lackluster 2-2 draw against Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag.
But over the years, fireworks have always been the order of business whenever Chelsea and Barcelona meet. The two teams have an identical record across their 14 Champions League clashes, winning four apiece. Let’s remember those four glorious Blues victories.
Brilliant Tore André Flo Brace Secures Shock 3-1 Win
Back in the 1999/2000 season, Chelsea made their UEFA Champions League bow, and the campaign went better than even the most optimistic Blues supporter could have ever imagined. The Blues surprisingly topped their first group, finishing ahead of Hertha Berlin as both Galatasaray and AC Milan stuttered their way to an early exit. In the second group stage, Gianluca Vialli’s men shone once more, finishing ahead of both Marseille and Feyenoord, but a 2-1 home defeat to Lazio on the final matchday left them at the mercy of Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
The Blaugrana were one of the tournament favorites, with captain and talisman Luis Figo leading the likes of Rivaldo, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez, and Patrick Kluivert into battle at Stamford Bridge. But on this night, Chelsea wouldn’t be stopped. Throughout a raucous first half, the Blues raced into a scarcely believable three-goal lead after Gianfranco Zola’s spectacular free kick was followed up with a brace from Norwegian target man Tore André Flo.
The hosts were good value for their lead, and despite coming under mounting pressure throughout the second half, they went on to secure a deserved 3-1 victory, with Figo’s late goal reducing Barcelona’s arrears. The victory had Blues supporters dreaming of the semifinals, but unfortunately, in the second leg at the Camp Nou, West London’s finest would be torn apart, losing 3-1, before conceding two more in extra time and bravely bowing out.
Mourinho Masterclass
By 2004/05, Chelsea were no longer plucky underdog debutants. José Mourinho’s arrival in the summer, fresh off leading FC Porto to a shock Champions League victory, ensured that the Blues were major players. Dominating in the Premier League, they soon turned their attention to Europe. After breezing through the group stage, they were paired up with Barcelona in the Round of 16, but things didn’t immediately go to plan.
The Blues led for long spells in the Camp Nou, but two second-half goals in four minutes from strikers Maxi Lopez and Samuel Eto’o handed the Blaugrana a 2-1 win. In the reverse fixture at a raucous Stamford Bridge, the pressure was on. Mourinho, as ever, was stoking the fires, claiming that Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard had entered referee Anders Frisk’s changing room at halftime in a bid to influence decisions and ultimately the game.
The outrage whipped the Blues into a frenzy, and that resonated on the pitch as, just like five years prior, Chelsea powered their way into a three-goal lead, this time in just 19 minutes after goals from Eidur Gudjohnsen, Frank Lampard, and Damien Duff. Barca came roaring back to life, however, and two goals from Ronaldinho – the first being a stunning toe poke from the edge of the area – put the Blaugrana on the brink of progression. Then, a late winner from John Terry sealed a 4-2 win on the night and a 5-4 win on aggregate, setting up a crunch quarterfinal with Bayern Munich.
Chelsea’s Group Stage Win
The following year, the two teams met once again in the Round of 16, with Barca coming out on top. In 2006/07, Chelsea and Barcelona would surprisingly meet in the group stages as a result of the Blues being considered a pot two team. And despite the somewhat reduced stakes compared with previous years, Mourinho’s men would return to winning ways.
In the pair’s first group stage game at the Bridge, a solitary Didier Drogba goal would secure all three points in a 1-0 win. In the reverse fixture, the Blues secured a gutsy draw thanks to Frank Lampard’s stunning last-minute equalizer. The results ensured that Chelsea topped Group A ahead of their rivals in second.
Drogba Sets Up Camp Nou Miracle
By 2011/12, Chelsea and Barcelona were at opposite ends of their football journeys. The Blaugrana were at the peak of their powers, with Pep Guardiola building a spell-binding side around the brilliance of the finest player on the planet, Lionel Messi. The Blues, meanwhile, were toiling, sitting fifth in the Premier League and under the stewardship of interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, with the Italian tasked with getting the best out of aging stars Drogba, Lampard, and Terry.
Di Matteo’s side surprisingly progressed to the semifinals of the Champions League, and they would find themselves as a huge underdog against the Blaugrana. The first leg was at Stamford Bridge, and the Blues were battered from pillar to post. Somehow, however, they managed to escape with a 1-0 victory after Drogba pounced on the stroke of half-time.
The second leg was the one with the drama, however. After captain Terry was sent off in the first half for violent conduct, Barcelona immediately took a 2-1 aggregate lead after goals from Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta. Ramires managed to level things up with a brilliant goal just before half time, handing Chelsea an away goals lead, and it was a lead they would defend with their lives throughout a second half onslaught.
Barcelona banged on the door repeatedly, twice striking the woodwork, with Messi also missing a penalty. Then, in the dying embers, Fernando Torres broke away, netting again for the Blues and sparking wild scenes as the ten men progressed to the final. There, they would beat Bayern Munich in their own backyard to claim the famous ‘Big-Eared’ trophy for the first time.
