5 classic Chelsea versus Manchester United clashes (2000-2017)

This Sunday, the return of Nemanja Matic and Romelu Lukaku to Stamford Bridge will be one of the many sub-plots as Chelsea host Manchester United in a much-awaited Premier League fixture.

The Blues have had a mixed start to the season but the team's flaws were cruelly exposed in the 3-0 loss to AS Roma earlier this week.

United, on the other hand, started the season well, keeping clean sheets and scoring for fun before succumbing to a surprising defeat to Huddersfield.

However, even though the Red Devils have not played the best football in the big games against their close rivals. they still have managed to take 4 points from games against Liverpool & Tottenham Hotspurs

While a draw will not be a bad result for United, Chelsea desperately need the three points to stay in contention for the title which seems to be moving towards Manchester as the two clubs; United and "noisy neighbours" Manchester City have been on fire so far.

In addition to this, it will be interesting to see whether Antonio Conte can survive the almost inevitable cries for blood that will occur in the event of a Chelsea loss.

So as we build up to the enrapturing clash, let's look at some of the most enticing battles between the sides.

Premier League 2000/01(3-3)

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored a scorcher in the game

On 23rd September 2000, the Blues, traveled to Old Trafford to challenge defending champions Manchester United, under their new manager Claudio Ranieri.

Despite not being a household name at that point, the Blues still managed to cause problems every time they visited Old Trafford and this was one such occasion.

Dutch striker Hasselbaink gave the visitors the lead in the 8th minute from an impeccable half-volley before Paul Scholes scored an equally breathtaking goal from outside the box.

Teddy Sheringham and David Beckham scored in the 37th and 39th minute to give the home side a comfortable lead.

However, the Red Devils could not celebrate for long as Andre Flo reduced the deficit in the 45th minute. Andy Cole almost scored the fourth for United but, Le Saux made an amazing goal-line clearance to deny the home side any chance to celebrate.

Flo scored his second goal to put his team back into the game in the 70th minute and that was how the game wanted.

Premier League 2011/12 (3-3)

Wayne Rooney was among the main protagonists in the 3-3 thriller

After crushing Chelsea in a 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford in their first clash of the season, Manchester United returned to knock horns with the Blues at Stamford Bridge on 5th Feb 2012.

It had been almost a decade since United got a victory at Stamford Bridge but Chelsea's poor form gave the visitors huge encouragement. Chelsea had been struggling under Andres Villas-Boas and had managed only two wins in the eight games before the clash with United.

John Terry's injury and Ashley Cole's suspension meant that the Chelsea defense would be prone to penetration. Furthermore, the absence of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and Salomon Kalou left the Blues with limited attacking options.

Everything pointed to a Manchester United victory but the Blues had other ideas.

United started in style and created problems for the home side before Jonny Evans's own goal gave Chelsea an undeserved lead.

The Blues came out firing after the interval as Juan Mata scored a thundering volley from inside the box before David Luiz's header tripled the lead. However, Wayne Rooney struck from the spot twice inside the space of 11 minutes to bring his team back into the game.

Six minutes from time, Chicharito headed home from a Ryan Giggs cross to salvage a point.

Carling Cup 2012 (5-4 Chelsea)

It was a fiery encounter which produced a thrilling 9 goals

The Blues walked into the 2012-13 campaign as champions of Europe while United had lost the league title on goal difference to Manchester City in the same season.

Chelsea's aging squad was revived by the purchase of young players like Eden Hazard, Oscar, Cesar Azpilicueta and Victor Moses.

For the first time in eight years, the West Londoners were without powerhouse Didier Drogba. On the other hand, Manchester United had also sold some of their key players like Dimitar Berbatov and Park Ji Sung.

The sides had already knocked horns in a league game at Stamford Bridge which ended in 2-3 defeat for Chelsea before meeting in the Carling Cup.

Chelsea's ambitions of revenge suffered a minor blow in the 22nd minute as Ryan Giggs opened the scoring for United. However, David Luiz equalized with a spot kick in the 30th minute.

Chicharito restored the lead for the Red Devils twelve minutes later before Gary Cahill's header in the 52nd minute helped the Blues equalize. Nani's goal in the 58th minute seemed to have sealed the tie for United but, a silly mistake by the Red Devil defence gifted Chelsea a penalty in the injury time which, Eden Hazard converted.

Daniel Sturridge gifted Chelsea a much-awaited lead in the 97th minute and Eden Hazard, brilliantly set up Ramires to settle things as the Blues avoided a second straight loss to United in three days.

Ryan Giggs scored a penalty just before the whistle to end the game 5-4 in favor of Chelsea.

FA Cup final 2007(1-0 Chelsea)

Didier Drogba holds the trophy his goal won

A week after being crowned as champions of England, Manchester United in the hunt for a league and cup double marched to Wembley to take on Chelsea in the 126th FA cup final.

The Blues were looking for vengeance following their failure to land a 3rd consecutive league title.

It was the first time that the new Wembley stadium was holding the FA Cup final and many legends were present to see the teams go at each other.

Contrary to expectations, the game was dull.

Drogba's wide shot from 30 yards in the 20th minute was the first discernible attempt before Lampard drew a save from Van Der Sar in the 30th minute. A minute after halftime, Wayne Rooney produced the most gripping moment, dribbling past two Chelsea defenders before unleashing a powerful shot which Cech managed to save.

Leading United's attack, Rooney troubled the Chelsea defense on a couple of other occasions but, failed to get the better of Cech.

With the score 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes, the game went into extra time. United's best chance came when Giggs made a slide to convert Rooney's pass from three yards out however the Chelsea keeper pulled up another save.

The Welshman claimed that the ball had crossed the line but, television replay showed that the ball went in only because Giggs's momentum pushed Cech backward.

Finally, in the 116th minute, Drogba broke the deadlock playing a one-two with Lampard before sweetly putting the ball into the net. It proved to be the game's last chance as Chelsea became the first team to win the FA Cup at the new Wembley stadium.

Champions League Final 2008(1-1 full-time; 6-5 penalties United)

Cristiano Ronaldo rises high to score the opener in the UCL final in Moscow in 2008

Unlike in recent years, the first decade of this century saw English teams dominate European football. The best evidence of their dominance was the all English final between Chelsea and Manchester United in 2008.

Although it wasn't the most exhilarating game, it was certainly very important for both the clubs as well as for English football.

United had already beaten Chelsea to the Premier League title by two points and were hoping to add to their misery. In the league meetings that season, United won 2-0 at Old Trafford and Chelsea returned the compliments defeating them 2-1 at Bridge.

After a quiet 20 minutes, the first major incident of the game occurred when Scholes's nose started to bleed following a mid-air clash with Makelele. Five minutes later, the English midfielder exchanged passes with Wes Brown before the latter crossed the ball towards Ronaldo, who headed it into the net.

Both the clubs continued to create chances but couldn't convert them. Chelsea equalized in the final minute of the first half when Essien's deflected shot deceived Van Der Sar and left Lampard with a simple job of putting the ball into the net.

The course of the game changed in the second half and the Blues started dominating the game. Nevertheless, United managed to deal with all their attacks. Drogba struck the post from 25 yards and later failed to convert Joe Cole's cross.

With the scoreline at 1-1, the game moved to the extra time where both teams had decent chances to get a second goal. Late in the second half of extra time, Drogba was sent off for slapping Vidic following a dispute between the sides.

The game moved into penalties. Goalscorer Ronaldo missed the third penalty giving Chelsea a glorious chance to seal the tie. John Terry stepped up to take Chelsea's fifth penalty to win the title but, he slipped and sent the game into sudden death.

Van Der Sar denied Anelka in sudden death and Manchester United lifted Old Big Ears as the UEFA Champions League trophy is fondly called for the third time in their history.