Chelsea v Barcelona: Their greatest Champions League clashes

While Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs will be fairly pleased with the Champions League draw, Chelsea have paid a high price for finishing second to Roma at the group stage. The Blues have been drawn against Barcelona in the Round of 16, leaving them with an uphill struggle to make it into the later rounds.

Though it might be a tough ask for Chelsea to overcome the five-time European champions, their two-legged tie is bound to make compelling viewing. Judging by these previous encounters between the two sides, we could be in for a rollercoaster ride.

Barcelona 1-1 Chelsea, March 2006

On the way to a Champions League final in which they would inflict excruciating agony on Arsenal, Barcelona first had Chelsea to contend with when the two sides met in the Round of 16. Having come from behind to win 2-1 at Stamford Bridge – this after a highly contentious red card for Didier Drogba – Barcelona were given a serious run for their money at the Camp Nou.

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Luckily for the Blaugrana, they had Ronaldinho on their side. He sauntered through the Blues’ defence before firing low past Petr Cech, and while Frank Lampard equalised from the spot late on the Catalans had done enough to edge through.

Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona, May 2009

Didier Drogba had some choice words for Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of the game

That wasn’t Ronaldinho’s most famous goal against Chelsea, of course. Though Chelsea beat Barca 5-4 on aggregate in the first knockout round back in 2005, the Brazilian scored one of the most iconic goals in Champions League history in the process. By the time the two sides met again in the semi-finals in 2009, Ronaldinho was an AC Milan player and Chelsea were managed by Guus Hiddink. Meanwhile, the Pep Guardiola era at Barcelona was in full swing.

Having thrashed out a goalless draw at the Camp Nou in the first leg, Chelsea fans were quietly confident heading into the game at Stamford Bridge. Everything was set up perfectly for a titanic clash on the way to the final and there was certainly high drama involved. Having gone ahead through Michael Essien in the ninth minute, Chelsea were frustrated by Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo as he turned away multiple penalty appeals. Then, in the 90th minute, Andres Iniesta smashed in an equaliser to win the tie on away goals.

Cue Didier Drogba losing his mind at full time and Ovrebo receiving death threats.

Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea, April 2012

Finally, in 2012, Chelsea were vindicated at the Camp Nou. So too was Fernando Torres, this at a time when he was one of the most maligned strikers in Europe.

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Despite his struggles in the Premier League and seemingly chronic lack of confidence, Torres fired 10-man Chelsea through in the final minute of the semi-final second leg in Catalonia. We all know what happened next: Chelsea salvaged another unlikely win in the final against Bayern Munich, before John Terry changed into full kit and lifted the Champions League trophy to secure his place as the most mocked footballer of all time.