Chelsea vs Barcelona: 5 memorable moments

UEFA Champions League: Barcelona vs Chelsea - 2000
Rivaldo in action against Chelsea

Come Tuesday, familiar foes Chelsea and Barcelona will lock horns once again as the second set of the round of 16 games in the Champions League get underway this week.

The European giants know each other pretty well, for they've met a total of 12 times since 2000. However, they haven't been pitted against each other since 2012. It would, therefore, be enticing to witness how the sides will fare given their transition over the years.

But first, let's take a trip down the memory lane and revisit the top five memorable moments produced in Chelsea vs Barcelona encounters in Europe.


#5 Figo and Rivaldo combine to produce a remarkable comeback with 5-1 Chelsea demolition

In the clash between the teams at Stamford Bridge in 2000, Chelsea claimed a 3-1 victory in the first leg, courtesy of a stunning double from Tore Andre Flo. Barcelona were left with a mountain to climb at home in the return leg but did possess the necessary tools to go the distance.

Rivaldo, Luis Figo and Garcia Daniel Dani each struck one goal apiece at Camp Nou to force the game into extra-time as Flo secured a vital away goal for Chelsea in the 3-1 defeat in full-time.

But a penalty from the Brazilian in added time quickly followed by a goal from Patrick Kluivert knocked the stuffing out of the Blues as Barcelona led 5-1 in the game and 6-4 on aggregate, which eventually proved enough to secure a passage into the next round.

This remarkable turnaround was just the start of a fascinating tale between the two European greats in the years to come.

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#4 Frank Lampard's unbelievable swing from byline in 2006

UEFA Champions League: Barcelona vs Chelsea - 2006
Lampard with one of the finishes of the 2006/07 campaign

Chelsea and Barcelona met for the third consecutive season in Champions League when they were drawn into the same group during the 2006/07 season. And even though the stakes here weren't as high as before, it wasn't without its eye-catching moments.

After Drogba secured all three points in the 1-0 win at home, the Catalans began their avenge mission with an early strike from Deco. However, Frank Lampard made it tough when he equalized early in the second-half and did so in one of the most spectacular fashions.

Lampard was wobbly with the looping ball from Claude Makelele as he drove to the byline in attempting to control the ball.

But with Gianluca Zambrotta lurking right behind him, Lampard took a few steps sideways before making an exquisite in-swinging swerve that floated into the back of the net as Victor Valdes couldn't get a hand to it despite stretching out completely.

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#3 Ronaldinho's toe-poke in 2006

UEFA Champions League: Chelsea vs Barcelona - 2005
One of Ronaldinho's iconic goals

Around 18 months before that Lampard chip, Ronaldinho hogged all the headlines with an incredible goal of his own as he threatened to drive Chelsea out of the competition with a brace at the Bridge.

Barcelona drew the first blood with a 2-1 win at home, but their West London counterparts were quick to overthrow the deficit as Lampard, Damien Duff and Eidur Gudjohnsen put the hosts 3-0 in front. Ronaldinho then pulled one back from the spot, but his second of the night was a thing of beauty.

Iniesta found the Brazilian just outside the box as Barcelona attempted a counter, but even before he could position himself, the latter was swarmed by a group of blue shirts. It seemed he hit a roadblock, but Ronaldinho being Ronaldinho, arrowed a shot right through the wall that flew straight into the back of the net and well beyond the reach of Petr Cech.

The Cules may have eventually lost the clash 4-2 after John Terry struck deep into the game, but the Brazilian's toe-poke was what stole the show on the night at Stamford Bridge.

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#2 Iniesta scores last-gasp in a high-tempered 2009 semifinal

UEFA Champions League: Chelsea vs Barcelona - 2009
Iniesta celebrates after scoring a late goal

This particular game between the sides remains one of the most controversial ever in the competition's history, and memories of that fateful night in Stamford Bridge still pricks the Chelsea hearts.

Riddled with dubious decisions, the Blues had as many as four legitimate penalty appeals overlooked which left the home team and the fans alike, really hot under the collar. And as Chelsea were distracted by the rage over the indecisiveness of referee Tom Ovrebo, the Blaugrana wielded the hammer in the deciding minute.

Messi was found in a difficult position to score, so the Argentine cut back for Iniesta who was completely unmarked, and the midfielder whacked an effort into the top corner to equalize and send Pep Guardiola's side into the finals on away goals rule.

Furious with the erroneous officiating, Didier Drogba pelted expletives at the referee post the game that eventually got him a four-match ban from European games by UEFA alongside Jose Bosingwa, whereas Chelsea too were fined £85,000 on grounds of misconduct.

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#1 Fernando Torres sprinting from halfway line to score and knock Barca out at the death

UEFA Champions League: Barcelona vs Chelsea - 2012
Torres finishes off in style

The last meeting between Chelsea and Barcelona was also perhaps one of the more memorable ones. The Blues held a 1-0 lead going into the match at Camp Nou, but quickfire strikes from Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta put the hosts 2-0 in front.

Ramires then pulled one back right before the break to level the tie on aggregate, as Chelsea, by then, were already down to 10-men after skipper John Terry was sent off.

There was more drama to follow in the closing half as Messi then missed a golden opportunity to regain the lead when he struck a penalty against the crossbar, but Torres saved the best moment of the night for the last.

After collecting a loose ball near the halfway line, the Spaniard sprinted the length of the Barcelona half, rounded a hapless Valdes and tapped home into the empty net with only a few seconds remaining on the clock, as he ensured the Londoners progressed 3-2 on aggregate.

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